U.S. Dept. of Energy gives U-M $10M for plasma research

Plasma research is starting to get the respect its scientists always believed it deserved now that the U.S. Dept. of Energy is giving the University of Michigan $10 million to study it.The new center at the U-M College of Engineering will conduct research on low-temperature plasmas. Think: The ionized gases used in everything from microchips to plasma TVs. The research is expected to provide advancements in fields such as energy, lighting, microelectronics and medicine.”This is a very important event in this particular field,” says Mark J Kushner, professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Michigan. “This field has historically been under-funded by the federal government.”The reason for the change is the new potential this technology has shown in a number of sectors – from national security to economic development to new innovations in bio technology.For instance, plasma technology can be used to help establish blood clotting and the healing of wounds. Sometimes it is as intricate as repairing the tissue in a patient’s heart without cracking open a chest.The $10 million grant will be dispersed over five years. At the end of that time, the researchers will have a chance to apply for another five-year, $10 million extension.Source: Mark J Kushner, professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of MichiganWriter: Jon Zemke