Geoff Geise Awarded Outstanding Oral Presentation Award at ICOM 2011

For his talk on “Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy (PALS) Characterization of Polymeric Membrane Materials for Desalination Applications”, graduate student Geoff Geise received an Outstanding Oral Presentation Award at the 2011 International Congress on Membrane and Membrane Processes (ICOM) meeting held in Amsterdam.

Out of over ninety presentations, Geoff and five other students were selected for recognition.  Along with the award, he received 500 euros (equivalent to $640).

“I believe that one of the primary goals of academic research is to teach others through publications and presentations,” Geise said.  “Since it is often challenging to present complex scientific phenomena in way that is highly accessible to a broad audience, this award is gratifying in that the selection committee thought that my presentation made a significant, clear, and concise contribution to the conference.”

ICOM is held every three years and is the world’s largest meeting on membrane science, technology and engineering.  It serves as a place for participants to come together, collaborate and exchange ideas on all things related to membranes and membrane processes.

Geise’s presentation focused on “the characterization of molecular-scale voids in hydrated polymer systems using positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy” which is important when attempting to understand how to “optimize polymers for membrane-based desalination and power generation applications.”

Geise was also the recent recipient of financial support from Kraton Performance Polymers, and the North American Membrane Society (NAMS) Travel Award, which provides up $1,250 in aid for those attending a membrane-related meeting.

Geoff is currently pursuing a graduate degree in Chemical Engineering here at The University of Texas at Austin and is co-advised by professors Don Paul and Benny Freeman.