UCI to lead state program for green materials research

UC Irvine has been awarded $1.62 million to lead a University of California program on development of nontoxic alternatives to everyday products, such as electronics, plastics, lighting products, fuels and pesticides. As the Lead Campus for a Green Materials Program, UCI will foster research and graduate-level training at UC campuses and bring together public health, toxicology, materials science, engineering and social science experts to work on innovative approaches to reducing health and environmental hazards associated with materials use in society. Oladele Ogunseitan, professor of public health and social ecology at UCI and international expert on environmental health sciences, will serve as inaugural director. “This program will have great impact on the people of California, because it will draw upon our expertise in these areas and employ it for the health and benefit of society,” he said.