Chevron announces expansion

PASCAGOULA, Miss. - Chevron's Pascagoula Refinery will begin construction of a $1.4 billion lubricants manufacturing facility at the refinery, officials said today. The project will generate about 1,000 job over the next two years of construction and about 20 permanent positions for the project. The plant would produce 25,000 barrels a day of oil that would be used in the manufacturing of high-performance lubricants, such as motor oils, for consumer and commercial use. (Source: Sun Herald, 01/31/11)

Polymer possibilities discussed

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Students from eight high school polymer programs were on hand for the second annual High School Polymer Science Day at the University of Southern Mississippi's Shelby Thames Polymer Science Research Center. The day is designed to pique the interest of students in careers in materials science. Mississippi is investing in materials businesses such as GE Aviation and solar panel-maker Stion, and the nation is making a larger commitment to science and technology. USM polymer science professor Jeffrey Wiggins called it a "perfect storm" that provides great job opportunities in the materials science field. (Source: Hattiesburg American, 01/29/11)

Plant to expand, add workers

FOLEY, Ala. - Nylon maker Ascend Performance Materials of Foley plans a $7 million expansion that will create 20 jobs. The company, which has about 70 workers, will install a new extruder to double nylon production. Ascend's nylon is used by the auto, electrical and electronic, apparel, carpet industries and others. The company also operates a large plant in Pensacola, Fla. (Source: Mobile Press-Register, 01/25/11)

Accelerator gets new tenant

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Bracco Diagnostics, headquartered in Milan, Italy, is the newest tenant in the University of Southern Mississippi’s incubator, The Accelerator. Bracco's Healthcare Protective Products Division in Hattiesburg will manufacture a lotion that neutralizes chemical warfare agents. The lotion is already used by the Department of Defense and most NATO militaries. Bracco plans to initially hire 10 people to operate the new facility. First production of the lotion is targeted for this summer. (Source: University of Southern Mississippi, 01/18/11)

Polymer science competition set

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - High school students from Mississippi will gather at the University of Southern Mississippi later this month for the second annual Polymer Science High School competition. It’s Jan. 28 at the Polymer Science Research Center at the Hattiesburg campus. The competition is designed to encourage interest in careers in science. (Source: Hattiesburg American, 01/16/11)

Materials focus of NOVA series

Materials innovations drive civilization and inspire scientific breakthroughs, and it's that notion that motivated the television series NOVA to take viewers on a behind-the-scenes tour of the world of materials. In a new four-part series, "Making Stuff: Stronger, Smaller, Cleaner, Smarter," New York Times technology reporter David Pogue travels the globe to examine the latest advancements in materials research and to find out what the future might hold in this field. The series airs on four consecutive Wednesdays, beginning Jan. 19. (Source: National Science Foundation, 01/13/11) Gulf Coast note: The University of Southern Mississippi is internationally known for its advanced materials research.

Solar panel company moving in

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Stion, a company that makes thin film solar panels, announced Tuesday that it's locating a mass production facility in the former Sunbeam appliance factory in the Forrest County Industrial Park. It's the first phase of a company investment of $500 million and will create 1,000 jobs over the next six years. The company will use about 300,000 square feet of the facility to produce panels for residential and commercial use. Stion now produces them at a 100,000-square-foot manufacturing and research and development facility in San Jose, Calif., where the company is headquartered. One reason Hattiesburg was chosen is the presence of the University of Southern Mississippi's advanced materials research. The state's contribution is a $75 million incentives package. (Sources: Gov. Haley Barbour, 01/04/10, Hattiesburg American, Mississippi Press, 01/05/11)