Source: Kyle Riding, 785-532-1578, riding@ksu.edu
Alok Bhandari, 785-532-1586, bhandari@ksu.edu
News release prepared by: Tyler Sharp, 785-532-2535, media@k-state.edu

Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2010

CIVIL ENGINEERING PROFESSOR RECEIVES GRANT FOR SUSTAINABLE CONCRETE RESEARCH

MANHATTAN -- A Kansas State University researcher is studying if the amount of cement needed to make concrete can be reduced by including finely crushed glass particles.

The research could help in reducing cement's carbon footprint, which is already low compared to other building materials.

Kyle Riding, assistant professor of civil engineering at K-State, received a Broadening Participation Research Initiation Grants in Engineering award through the National Science Foundation for his study. The award is for $174,999.

"Dr. Riding's project is an example of how research in civil engineering is addressing sustainability in infrastructure development by creating new environmentally-friendly materials and technologies for the construction industry," said Alok Bhandari, department head and professor of civil engineering.

The research is not Riding's only sustainability-oriented project. He is currently collaborating with K-State's Wen Yuan, assistant professor of biological and agricultural engineering, and collaborators from the University of Texas on more sustainable materials for concrete. That project, supported by the National Science Foundation, begins this fall as well.

Riding also has developed a broadening participation plan in collaboration with K-State's Women in Science and Engineering Program. The plan will feature a daylong program for middle school students about engineering and going green. In an effort to see how different outreach programs can be tailored for gender, the program will occur on one weekend for middle school girls and the other for middle school boys.

"Sustainability is something I believe very strongly in," Riding said. "I believe we need to make better use of our resources."

Riding's nationally-funded sustainability research projects are just one way K-State is working toward the goal of being a nationally recognized 50 public research university by 2025.