Engineering Research

The country's aging infrastructure has long been an issue and presents a number of problems, including accurately understanding its viability. Existing sensors and structural health monitoring (SHM) approaches have limitations, such as high costs, limited durability, compatibility issues, and frequent maintenance needs. However, LSU Civil and Environmental Engineering Assistant Professor Yen-Fang Su believes there is a promising alternative in the form of self-sensing cementitious composites (SSCCs) due to their sensing performance, compatibility with concrete structures, and relative lower costs.

LSU researchers have created a new, low-cost way to break down plastic, a potential breakthrough that could save billions of dollars and eliminate billions of tons of plastic pollution.

Retinoblastoma is a rare, malignant tumor in the retina that mostly affects children under the age of 5 and can lead to blindness or even death if not treated. Since many patients are unable to access current treatments that include chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery, LSU Biological and Agricultural Engineering Assistant Professor Qi Cai and a team of LSU researchers are creating an eyedrop gel that will be more accessible to retinoblastoma patients, thanks to a $75,000 Provost Award grant.