RadLaunch Ready to Recognize More Technology Initiatives in UV/EB
RadTech has called for entries in its annual competition to identify and recognize new UV/EB technology initiatives – RadLaunch 2021. RadLaunch invites start-up ideas, concepts and prototypes in new materials, optics, design, printing, packaging, 3D printing, inkjet, building products, plastics, medical, electronics and more. This event is going virtual, presenting winners in early spring 2021. Each winning entry will receive a cash award, webinar opportunity, inclusion in a special RadLaunch image video and article in UV+EB Technology magazine. RadTech also will connect start-ups with mentoring resources to assist in research and market development efforts.
A new category for students will offer scholarships for the advancement of research and educational opportunities in UV/EB. In addition, RadLaunch will accept start-up ideas on behalf of the International Ultraviolet Association – UV for public health and the environment. The RadLaunch application deadline is January 15. For details, visit www.radlaunch.org.
Registration Open for December Virtual UV Disinfection Conference
Registration is open for the International Conference on Ultraviolet Disinfection for Air and Surfaces (ICUDAS) taking place online December 8-9.
ICUDAS features two days of conference presentations and live video networking. The vision for this conference is to bring together industry leaders involved in all aspects of air and surface UV disinfection to spur communication and networking. An exciting technological feature of this virtual conference is that the presentations from internationally recognized speakers will move seamlessly into multiple “table” breakout sessions. These breakout tables will include Q&A’s with the presenters, exhibitor displays and many other networking opportunities. To register, visit https://iuva.org/2020-ICUDAS.
RadTech Fall Meeting Virtual Event for 2020
Like many events in this unusual year, the 2020 RadTech Fall Meeting was scheduled virtually as a series of three meetings in November. Participants were asked to register for each week separately, as each required a unique meeting ID and password.
RadTech Member Update and RadLaunch was set for Nov. 5, the 3D Printing Committee was scheduled Nov. 12 and the EHS/Sustainability Committee meetings were planned for Nov. 19. For more information, see page 30 of this issue or visit https://radtech.org/component/k2/item/140-radtech-virtual-fall-meeting-2020.
Fall Webinar Series Videos Feature Advanced Photopolymer Concepts
In October, RadTech presented a series of webinars on advanced photopolymer concepts. The first, presented by Christopher Bowman at the University of Colorado, was “Smart, Responsive Polymers Based on Covalent Adaptable Networks: Photoactivatable Dynamic Covalent Chemistry and Its Applications in Polymer Networks.” Participants explored distinct approaches to covalent adaptable networks based on photochemically triggered responses.
Second in the series was “3D Photocuring and Photomechanics in Digital Light Processing Additive Manufacturing for Soft Functional Composites and 4D Printing,” presented by H. Jerry Qi of the Georgia Institute of Technology. The presentation introduced strategies to use light grayscale to create a part with locally controlled properties for soft functional composites and 4D printing.
“Dentistry as a Driver of Photo-based 3D Printing” was presented by Jeffrey Stansbury, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. The presentation highlighted the use of photopolymerization-based 3D printing with SLA/DLP and ink jet processes to demonstrate the widespread use of the technology as well as the challenges and opportunities associated with photo-printed polymer application areas.
The final series webinar, “Pushing the Limits of CRP and Post-polymerization Modification to Access New Materials,” was presented by Brent Sumerlin, University of Florida. In the webinar, he discussed a method for preparing “inverted” block copolymers, whereby the traditional order of monomer addition has been reversed through the use of photoiniferter-mediated radical polymerization.
For more information, or to review videos of the presentations, visit https://radtech.org/education/advanced-photopolymer-concepts-webinars-new.
Rolland Featured Speaker as Industry Thought Leader
The first UV+EB Industry Thought Leaders webinar featured Jason Rolland, senior vice president at Carbon. Rolland’s topic was “How Additive Manufacturing Materials are Enabling Breakthroughs in a Quickly Evolving BioMedical Environment.” For more information and to view a video of the presentation, visit https://radtech.org/education/thought-leader-webinars-new.
NAI, RadTech Collaborate on Mentorship Program
The RadTech Young Professionals Committee has announced access to a mentorship platform through RadTech’s membership in the National Academy of Inventors (NAI).
When RadTech became the first nonprofit trade association to join NAI as a member, it introduced opportunities for RadTech members to sign up as mentors or mentees on the Global Academic Inventors Network. For more information or to become part of the mentorship program, visit https://nai.firsthand.co.
RadTech Initiates Young Professionals Committee
RadTech International North America has initiated a new committee designed to engage students and professionals under the age of 35 or with less than five years of experience in utilizing UV and EB technologies in industry, government and academia.
The mission of the YP Committee is “to help young professionals’ (YPs) growth in the use and development of UV & EB technology. We are a group dedicated to enhancing interactions between YPs and senior experts within RadTech.”
As its first undertaking, with an initial goal of enhancing interactions between young professionals and experienced industry members, the YP Committee is working to develop a mentorship program. All RadTech members are invited to sign up, whether as a mentor or a mentee, through a platform called Firsthand. This platform is available due to RadTech’s membership in the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). RadTech members sign up at nai.firsthand.co, using the email associated with RadTech membership or with their personal LinkedIn account. Once enrolled, the program matches mentors and mentees for career development and networking, helping young professionals better connect and deepen interactions within the UV/EB community.
Future projects under discussion for the YP Committee could include interviews with YP members, a webpage on the RadTech.org website and networking events, whether virtual or at industry tradeshows.
The RadTech YP Committee is led by Rachel Davis, Azul 3D; Kejia Yang, Ares Materials; and Sunny Ye, Facebook Reality Lab, under the direction of Gary Cohen, executive director of RadTech International North America. For more information or to ask questions, contact the committee via email at yp@radtech.org.
