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‘Purdue News Now’

Southern Airways Express takes flight from Purdue University Airport, and two global business leaders from the Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. School of Business are set to share the stage with President Mung Chiang later this month. Trevor Peters has the latest in this week’s “Purdue News Now.”

Plus, check out five good stories below you may have missed.

Purdue commercial air service underway following inaugural flight, groundbreaking

The first Southern Airways Express flight departed Wednesday (May 15) from Purdue University Airport, traveling to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. This marks the return of commercial air service to the Purdue airport for the first time since 2004 and followed a ceremonial first flight and groundbreaking event held Tuesday (May 14) for the university’s new Amelia Earhart Terminal.

Media contact: Trevor Peters, peter237@purdue.edu

Purdue University joins Chicago Quantum Exchange, tapping into the region’s efforts to advance U.S. leadership in quantum technologies

Purdue University has joined the Chicago Quantum Exchange (CQE) in the collaborative effort to advance the science and engineering of quantum information, build the future quantum workforce, and drive the nation’s quantum economy. Purdue is the newest member of the CQE, an intellectual hub that has led the Midwest in becoming a central driver of U.S. leadership in quantum technologies. Central to the membership is the Purdue Quantum Science and Engineering Institute, which brings together leading quantum researchers and leverages collaborations with industry, government and academia to drive discovery of quantum phenomena and development of chip-scale quantum systems for tomorrow’s technology.

Media contact: Tim Doty, doty2@purdue.edu

Chiang appointed to inaugural board of directors for U.S. DOE Foundation for Energy Security and Innovation

Purdue University President Mung Chiang was appointed May 9 to the inaugural board of directors for the U.S. DOE Foundation for Energy Security and Innovation (FESI) by U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm. FESI is the U.S. Department of Energy’s first agency-related foundation, authorized by the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act signed by President Joe Biden in 2022. FESI will support the DOE in carrying out its mission of ensuring the country’s security and prosperity through transformative science and technology solutions.

Media contact: Tim Doty, doty2@purdue.edu 

AP Video — What are functional sodas?

Stephen Lindemann, an associate professor of food science and nutrition science in the College of Agriculture at Purdue University and a board member of the soda brand Olipop, explains what functional sodas are and how they can help improve people’s health. Lindemann says a functional soda is any kind of carbonated beverage that has something added to it in order to improve health. In functional sodas, there is often a focus on adding prebiotics, plant fiber or botanicals to support the microbiome and gut health of consumers.

Media contact: Trevor Peters, peter237@purdue.edu 

Purdue researchers develop sustainable, biodegradable superabsorbent materials from hemp

The manufacture and discard of traditional superabsorbent materials — typically made from synthetic polymers, primarily polyacrylate-based compounds — are affecting the planet. Purdue University researchers are developing biodegradable materials that retain water in a cleaner, more sustainable way and have much less environmental impact. Senay Simsek leads a team of researchers in Purdue’s College of Agriculture using cellulose extracted from hemp and refined through a sequence of treatments to create the patent-pending superabsorbent materials.

Media contact: Steve Martin, sgmartin@prf.org

MORE: Recent AP video stories

The AP Newsroom (for AP members) and Purdue News YouTube channel (for all reporters) provide comments from Purdue experts on timely topics. 

U.S. economy strong, but inflation steady at 3%

Supporting new moms in the workplace

Wirelessly charging electric vehicles on highways

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a public research institution demonstrating excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities and with two colleges in the top four in the United States, Purdue discovers and disseminates knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 105,000 students study at Purdue across modalities and locations, including nearly 50,000 in person on the West Lafayette campus. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue’s main campus has frozen tuition 13 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap — including its first comprehensive urban campus in Indianapolis, the new Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. School of Business, and Purdue Computes — at https://www.purdue.edu/president/strategic-initiatives.