Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE - University of Wisconsin-Platteville faculty members, Professors Timothy Zauche and Michael Compton, received the WiSys Innovation Scholar Awards as part of the WiSys Technology Foundation, Inc., on Jan. 30. Zauche, from UW-Platteville's Department of Chemistry and Engineering Physics, and Compton, from UW-Platteville's School of Agriculture with emphasis in ornamental horticulture and plant biotechnology, worked collaboratively on a research project that led to a method to use the solid waste byproducts from manure digesters as a media for plant growth.

Recognizing and honoring UW System faculty, staff and students who make and disclose outstanding discoveries that benefit society, the WiSys Innovation Scholar Award bases its selection of recipients for the award on innovative concept, broad use, value and industrial application. Additionally, each UW System campus is consulted to ensure that WiSys is able to select all worthy inventors. This year, scholars were chosen from UW-River Falls, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Eau Claire, UW-La Crosse, and UW-Platteville.

According to an article in the WiSys newsletter, Zauche and Compton's invention is proving to be an ideal, environmentally friendly substitute for peat moss. Also, their invention is helping to solve the environmental problems associated with the disposing of cattle manure. It uses products from the digester as a complimentary or sole organic addendum to horticulture growing media containing perlite and vermiculite, or it may also be combined with soil, peat moss, bark, coconut coir, sawdust and other materials. This invention will benefit not only farmers and small start-up companies, but also consumers who enjoy gardening because this new mixture for soil will lower the cost of potting soil. "It is nice to be recognized for years of hard work," expressed Zauche who then described that this research actually began almost four years ago when he first initiated this project and approached Compton to join in him the process. Compton added that, "It was a surprise and a shock when we were notified of this award. We initially started this just for fun!"

The professors indicated that the winning of this award would honor not just themselves and the university, but it would also benefit the students. In fact, seven students were involved in working on this project and many others will now be able to understand how group collaboration, hard work and innovative ideas prove to be successful in life. According to Duane Ford, dean of the College of Business, Industry, Life Science and Agriculture, "Both Compton and Zauche are to be commended for their hard work, innovation and perseverance. They have certainly had plenty of set-backs along the way, however they stuck with it and it paid off. I would also like to add," continued Ford, "that they and their students used their expertise to address a couple of real-world problems. Their innovation will allow farmers to turn a waste stream into a profitable product, while at the same time helping to protect the environment by decreasing the use of sphagnum moss."

WiSys was created as a not-for-profit technology foundation established in 2000 to serve the UW-System campuses. It was based on the already existing UW-Madison program called WARF, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation. WiSys strives to invigorate technology transfer and economic development throughout the state. According to its website, "As a key link between the campuses of the UW System and their local and regional business communities, WiSys is in a unique position to identify synergies that may help foster the growth of local communities, their colleges and universities, their regions and, ultimately, the economy of Wisconsin." They bear the cost of patenting and licensing new inventions. Subsequently, all profits from the invention are shared by the inventor(s), campus and UW System.

While Compton and Zauche toyed with the idea of patenting their invention themselves, they realized it would be an enormous undertaking and decided that WiSys provided the best avenue for their first invention. However, Compton and Zauche's research has only just begun. They are pleased with the results they found when studying growth in geraniums, however are currently in the process of testing their invention with the growth of orchids.

Present at the awards ceremony were UWP Provost Carol Sue Butts, Chancellor David Markee, WiSys Technology Foundation general manager Dr. Maliyakal John, the awardees and other faculty, students and community members. With both professors performing skills outside of their comfort zone, this research project allowed each of them to learn from the other. In fact, Zauche ended his and Compton's presentation with the remark that, "Together, this time, two minds were better than one."

Contact: Kathy Lomax, director, Office of Sponsored Programs, (608) 342-1456,lomax@uwplatt.edu

Prepared by: Marsha Pauly, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194,paulym@uwplatt.edu