CIM research offers students “aha moments” in the lab
Sustainable and innovative practices are taking over in the Concrete Industry Management program (CIM). Feraidon Ataie, Assistant Professor in the CIM program, has worked on several products to increase concrete sustainability utilizing agricultural by-products such as rice straws and rice hulls. He addresses the challenges of ash in concrete to help pave the way for large-scale production of rice straw ash and rice hulls ash.
The CIM program at CSU, Chico is one of only four programs in the United States--combining the academic disciplines of concrete technology with business administration.
Dr. Ataie works with undergraduate students on his research projects and enjoys working side by side with them. “I love their ‘aha moments’ in the lab!”
He says the most exciting thing about his research is that it contributes to the creation of knowledge. And that it’s great satisfaction to inform farmers they can get better prices for their by-products and telling concrete producers they can produce cheaper and more sustainable concrete using agricultural by-products.
Dr. Ataie says that Chico State Enterprises has been a huge help for the research program. They support proposal development, contract processing and project administration.
“Truly, without RESP support, I would not have been able to obtain any research grants. No doubt about this. And without grant funds, I would not be able to conduct the research we do here at Chico State.”
Student Henry Freimuth scrapes excess concrete off of a mold of hardening concrete as part of a research study.