JSU prof receives MS space grant

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Kejun Wen, a Civil and Environmental Engineering assistant professor at Jackson State (Miss.) University, received a $28,741 grant from the Mississippi Space Grant Consortium to explore the use of bio-inspired construction materials in space. The focus of the grant is to study the effects of atmospheric pressure and other curing conditions with a new technology called microbial induced calcite precipitation, a release from JSU says. The aim of the research is to produce an environmentally friendly and cost-effective method to bind soil particles to strengthen and improve the ground. Wen's project will also explore the potential applications of bio-inspired construction materials on other planets, the release says. The technical objective of the proposed research project is to examine the effects of different reaction environments on mechanical behaviors of such bio-inspired materials.  Affiliates of the Mississippi Space Grant Consortium sponsor information programs, conferences, summer instruction for teachers and opportunities for fellowships and scholarships for graduate and undergraduate students in NASA-related STEM fields. For more information, visit 

http://msspacegrant.org/.

he focus of the grant is to study the effects of atmospheric pressure and other curing conditions with a new technology called microbial induced calcite precipitation, a release from JSU says. The aim of the research is to produce an environmentally friendly and cost-effective method to bind soil particles to strengthen and improve the ground.Wen's project will also explore the potential applications of bio-inspired construction materials on other planets, the release says. The technical objective of the proposed research project is to examine the effects of different reaction environments on mechanical behaviors of such bio-inspired materials.