“It is a partnership formed by marrying our group at Trent, one that’s considered one of the best in the world in lipid based chemicals and polymers, with Professor Thomas’, one of the pre-eminent groups focused on natural based composites.”

This is how Dr. Suresh Narine, director of the Trent Centre for Biomaterials Research, describes the high-profile partnership the University has shared with Mahatma Gandhi University in Kerala, India since 2009.

The partnership began with Professor Sabu Thomas, is one of the top 100 most cited scientists in India and one of the top four professors in the world in the areas of composites and rubber. He runs the Centre for Nanoscience at Mahatma Ghandi University. With similar interests and a shared approach and vision to Trent and Professor Narine, the partnership was a natural fit.

“Our expertise provides bio-based polymers to replace the traditional polymers in the composites studied and developed by Professor Thomas' group,” explained Professor Narine.

Trent University has had multiple students and visiting scholars from India and students, professors and research associates from Trent University have also visited the Kerala campus.  The partnership has also resulted in more than 40 joint publications in the areas of bio-based composites and replacement technology.

Posted on Thursday, April 16, 2015.