How One Rowan University Chemical Engineer Faculty Revolutionizes Sustainable Materials
Meet Joe Stanzione, an associate professor of Chemical Engineering and the director of Rowan’s Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Institutes(AMMI).
Dr. Joe Stanzione, raised on a family farm and driving tractors by age 11, brings a unique perspective to work at AMMI. The agricultural background has been transformed into a groundbreaking project: a 200-tree birch farm on campus. This farm is not just for growing trees but for converting birch bark into a valuable polymer through a five-step process. The approach allows for sustainable harvesting over decades without cutting down the trees, ensuring environmental friendliness.
AMMI focuses on creating eco-friendly materials such as adhesives and plastics from sustainable sources. Students involved in these projects acquire practical skills and become highly sought after by industry and government partners. Dr. Joe Stanzione’s work demonstrates how combining farming roots with modern science can lead to innovative solutions and provide significant opportunities for future generations.
Written by: Hanisha Hanumanula, master’s in Computer Science