The presentations are free and open to the public. Curt Hanson, an associate professor in the University of Northern Iowa Department of Chemistry, was recognized at the first annual Iowa da Vinci Conference and Celebration, which honors Iowa's brightest scientists, engineers and technology professionals. The conference took place in Des Moines, and was hosted by the Iowa Department of Economic Development. Hanson was awarded two patents in the last year, and a third is in the works. He also was chosen for the Prem Sahai Distinguished professorship at UNI, in recognition of being published 15 times in research publications, writing two book chapters, and involving undergraduate students in research.
Research is an extension of the education process.
There is a notion that research is conducted at the expense of teaching. But the concept of a university is not just to disseminate information, but to create and develop new ideas. The function of research is fundamental to the function and purpose of education. The two shouldn't be separated. Hanson's research has been funded by the UNI Recycling and Reuse Technology Transfer Center, the Graduate College, applied technology grants from the College of Natural Science, and the Department of Chemistry.