Best of CASE District VI Award
 

Institution: University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Title of entry: Nebraska Engineering Develops First Recycled Plastic Road in State

About this entry: The University of Nebraska–Lincoln Office of University Communication and Marketing produced a feature video of UNL College of Engineering faculty and students as they led efforts to install the first roadway in Nebraska constructed out of plastic waste. The 4,000-foot stretch of road, located in South Sioux City, Nebraska, is made from two million recycled plastic bags.

The goal of the video was to reach local Nebraskans as well as key stakeholders to our College of Engineering and Office of Research and Innovation and demonstrate the innovative work happening on our campus that creates real impacts.

Aaron Nix, director of visual media, produced this video over a two-day period. He traveled to South Sioux City to capture the opening event, conduct interviews with UNL students, South Sioux City representatives and other partners, and gather behind-the-scenes footage of the asphalt being made at a local plant. The other day of filming took place at UNL with lead researcher Professor Jamilla Teixeira, who demonstrated how her research resulted in the new plastic road. The two shoots resulted in an effective example of how research in a lab can turn into reality and impact the state.

The video aired on local broadcast channels as well as published on our internal platforms by Nebraska Today, Nebraska Engineering, and Nebraska Research. It was posted to select channels from our main UNL social media accounts. Professor Jamilla Teixeira and the College of Engineering continue to use it at events and public screens around their Kiewit Hall.