Hareesh Tippur, McWane professor in the department, and Xinyu Zhang, assistant professor in polymer and fiber engineering, have been awarded a three-year, $300,000 National Science Foundation grant for their research, “Novel Lightweight Syntactic Foams: Synthesis, Processing and Characterization.” They are investigating ways to develop structural foams that are stronger, as well as more energy efficient and energy absorbent, than similar materials on the market. Their engineered foams — or syntactic foams — are filled with hollow micron-sized ceramic balloons that have carbon nanotubes grown via an innovative microwave irradiation process.
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AUBURN ENGINEERING NEWS
- #GINNing Podcast: Friend of the Park October 17, 2025Auburn engineers are making an impact in their own backyard with a project aimed at protecting and improving water quality at Hickory Dickory Park. And without the aid of Stormwater Research Facility phenom Aidan Bosman, it just wouldn't be the same.
- Auburn’s Grand Engineering Challenges combines fun and learning for K-6th grade students October 15, 2025Auburn University’s Samuel Ginn College of Engineering hosted more than 220 K-6th grade students Tuesday, Oct. 14, as part of its Grand Engineering Challenges event.
- AI@AU initiative to host pair of lectures exploring AI, ethics and creative expression October 15, 2025The series features Matthew Salzano, assistant professor in the Department of Communication at Stony Brook University, who will speak on Oct. 31, and Al Smith, founder of Purpix Media and producer of AI Film Lab, who will present on Nov. 7.