The research and development of a dandelion root that is able to produce rubber

Dr. Katrina Cornish is the Ohio Research Scholar and Endowed Chair in Bioemergent Materials at The Ohio State University, and is Director of Research for the Program of Excellence in Natural Rubber Alternatives, a private/public consortium. Katrina is a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, and of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She is a leading global expert on sustainable alternate rubber production, processing and products, from circumallergenic latex to liquid biofuels, and her inventions form the foundation of the domestic rubber industry.

In September 2017, Dr. Cornish received the A.E. Thompson Career Achievement Award at the 2017 International Association for the Advancement of Industrial Crops (AAIC) Conference. This award is AAIC’s highest honor. The A. E. Thompson Career Achievement Award was established to honor Dr. A.E. (Tommy) Thompson for his many achievements and lasting contributions to the AAIC and the development of industrial crops and products. This award is given to someone who throughout their career has made significant contributions to the development and/or utilization of industrial crops and/or products.