TURI Director and Work Environment Prof. Michael Ellenbecker presented Assoc. Prof. Sanjeev Manohar with the “University Research Champion” award for developing a lead-free surface finish for printed circuit boards.

The Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI) presented its 2009 Champions of Toxics Use Reduction Awards to three companies, eight community groups and one researcher at a Massachusetts State House ceremony in June.

The annual awards recognize outstanding leaders who have reduced toxic chemical use in Massachusetts through innovation and outreach.

The keynote speakers Sen. Anthony Petruccelli and Rep. William Straus, co-chairs of the Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture Committee, praised the work of all organizations for helping to make the Commonwealth a safer place to live and work.

Rep. Straus highlighted a problem in his own district of New Bedford where one of the world's worst marine toxic waste sites exists as a result of industry manufacturing and discharging polychlorinated biphenals (PCBs) more than 30 years ago.

“With new technologies and help from the state, companies are making a substantial improvement to public health and the environment as these companies we recognize today prove – it is possible to protect our land, water and health and still be economically successful,” says Straus.

TURI awarded the “University Research Champion” award to Assoc. Prof. and Director of the Green Technology Laboratory Sanjeev Manohar.  He developed and tested a lead-free surface finish for printed circuit boards.  Manohar partnered with EMC and Benchmark Electronics to evaluate the performance of polymers -- a form of plastic that conducts electricity – that he researched more than 20 years ago.

"The initial results are very promising,” says Manohar.  “When I received the request for proposals from TURI to research alternatives, I realized that the substance I worked with years ago when I was a doctoral student might be a good replacement for existing coatings that are used to help eliminate the use of lead in the electronics industry,” says Manohar who will continue to work with industry to test the formulations. 
     
The 2009 Champions of Toxics Use Reduction are:

Industry Toxics Use Reduction Champions

• Skyworks Solutions, Inc., Woburn
• Lightolier, Fall River
• Silver Hanger Cleaners, Bellingham

Community Toxics Use Reduction Champions

• Brazilian Women’s Group, Allston
• Vietnamese-American Initiative for Development, Inc., (Viet-AID), Dorchester
• Wampanoag Tribe, Martha’s Vineyard
• Center Pond, Becket
• Townsend Conservation Commission
• School Disinfection Workgroup, statewide project
• Northeast Organic Farming Association, Barre
• Lowell Green Building Commission

University Research Champion was Assoc. Prof. Sanjeev Manohar, director of the UMass Lowell Green Technology Lab.

For more photos of the State House event, visit the TURI photo gallery.

- Karen_Angelo

The new co-chairs of the Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture Committee, Sen. Anthony Petruccelli and Rep. William Straus, praised the “Champions of Toxics Use Reduction” awards at a State House ceremony.