UNL News Releases

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Staff craft solution to deliver hand sanitizer to campus

Necessity is the mother of invention, and Jim Jackson had a mother lode of necessity — the numbers he was looking at were staggering.

Jim Jackson, associate vice chancellor of University Operations, put a team together to solve the problem of efficiently distributing hand sanitizer across campus. They invented the large-capacity, free-standing dispenser station shown here.

Canadian company locates first U.S. office at NIC

A Canadian company, JCA Electronics, has become the newest partner at Nebraska Innovation Campus, Dan Duncan, NIC’s executive director, announced May 21.

JCA develops advanced technology solutions for mobile machines and is emerging as a leader in technology solutions that enable advanced precision agriculture and autonomous applications. The company applies a combination of advanced technologies, engineering expertise and manufacturing capabilities to enable unique mobile off-highway machine systems.

USDA meatpacking inspectors receive hand sanitizer made at Nebraska U

Food safety inspectors employed by the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service are receiving a supply of hand sanitizer thanks to an innovative partnership between Nebraska’s ethanol industry and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

The hand sanitizer will be used by the men and women responsible for inspecting more than 6,500 meat-processing facilities across the country, ranging from “mom-and-pop” facilities that handle only a few animals at a time to the giant beef, poultry and pork plants that employ thousands of people.

Hand sanitizer is mixed and loaded into jugs inside a fenced-off section of the Food Innovation Center parking lot. More than 6,800 gallons of the hand sanitizer has been shipped to the USDA for use by food safety inspectors.

Innovation Campus' PPE projects benefit hundreds of communities

In mid-March, when personal protective equipment and hand sanitizer were scarce, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Nebraska Innovation Campus helped address those needs.

The efforts have rippled across Nebraska and the United States. To date, hundreds of communities and thousands of individuals have benefited from the expertise and innovation found at NIC.

Innovation Studio coordinating army of makers for PPE projects

While assembling up to 1,800 face shields a day, staff at Nebraska Innovation Studio are also assisting coordination of an army of community workers and volunteers to make more personal protective equipment, namely gowns for first responders and fabric masks for essential workers.

Jerry Reif, studio manager at Nebraska Innovation Studio, cuts out a gown form from Tyvec material.

Hand sanitizer for health care produced at Nebraska Innovation Campus

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is partnering with the Nebraska ethanol industry to produce hand sanitizer for use by hospitals, nursing homes, doctors’ offices and other health care providers in Nebraska and nearby areas.

After a successful initial run April 5 at the Food Processing Center on Nebraska Innovation Campus, the partners completed their first full day of production April 6.

Jan tenBensel, chairman of the Nebraska Ethanol Board, directs Russell Parde as nonflammable ingredients are mixed inside the Food Innovation Center. The ingredients are mixed with the ethanol under stringent safety rules. Hand sanitizer is being made at Nebraska Innovation Campus through a collaboration between the Food Innovation Center and the Nebraska Ethanol Board.

Nebraska U makers step up to equip healers

Nebraska Innovation Studio is closed to the public, but its leaders and members are working around the clock to produce face shields for hospitals across the state.

Personal protective equipment shortages have been well documented throughout the United States as COVID-19 has spread rapidly. That trend is also hitting Nebraska, where hospitals are starting to run short.

Jerry Reif, shop manager at Nebraska Innovation Studio, works on a laser to cut clear plastic sheeting for face shields. The face shields are being assembled for hospitals in Nebraska in response to COVID-19.

Celerion expands clinical research to Nebraska Innovation Campus

Nebraska Innovation Campus has announced a new partner. Dan Duncan, NIC’s executive director, said Celerion is moving into space on the first level of the Rise Building, NIC’s newest building, this month.

Celerion is moving into space on the first level of the Rise Building on Nebraska Innovation Campus this month.

Innovation Studio matches makers with project requests

It started as a trickle, but as Nebraska Innovation Studio’s reputation grew, David Martin found himself fielding more and more requests.

“I was getting consistent calls asking if we could make something,” said Martin, director of Innovation Studio. “The word got out that we have incredibly talented makers that can do a lot of different things.

Carly Brotherson pulls sock blocks from the laser cutter at Nebraska Innovation Studio Nov. 25. Brotherson made the sock blocks for a yarn store, which requested the project through the new 'Request a Maker' button, which matches makers to projects.

Faculty-led startup takes aim at improving gut health

Nebraska faculty have founded a university spin-off company, Synbiotic Health, to develop a combination of beneficial gut bacteria and the fuel that feeds them.

Bob Hutkins, Khem Shahani Professor of Food Science and Technology, is a member of the recently formed university spin-off company Synbiotic Health.

UNL News Releases

News – UNL News Releases

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