Austin Peay Student Studies Biodegradable Coatings
Keira Scott researched protective materials to improve the durability of sodium alginate during a summer program.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Materials Science
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During the summer of 2026, Austin Peay State University student Keira Scott participated in a competitive National Science Foundation research program. She studied how beeswax and zein coatings can manage water absorption in sodium alginate.
Why it matters
Sodium alginate is naturally hydrophilic and breaks down too rapidly in water, necessitating the development of effective, biodegradable protective coatings to extend its utility.
Researchers measured the water repellency of treated surfaces by analyzing the contact angle of water droplets. The study specifically investigated the balance between maintaining material transparency and achieving water resistance.
The players
Keira Scott
Keira Scott is an engineering physics major at Austin Peay State University who serves as the inaugural STEMbassador for the Department of Physics, Engineering and Astronomy.
National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering.
The details
Scott, an engineering physics major, worked at the University of Pittsburgh to test various coating materials on sodium alginate substrates. Her research aimed to mitigate the rapid material degradation typically caused by the polymer's affinity for water.
Timeline
In 2025, Keira Scott studied hydrophobic thin film coatings at Brigham Young University.
During the summer of 2026, Scott conducted her research at the University of Pittsburgh.
The Big Picture
This study follows a pattern set by the National Science Foundation's Research Experiences for Undergraduates program in fostering collaborative STEM research. It demonstrates how undergraduate participation helps bridge theoretical physics with practical materials science applications.
Refining biodegradable coatings could lead to the development of more sustainable packaging and medical materials that resist degradation. Such advancements may eventually reduce environmental waste by offering functional alternatives to traditional, non-degradable plastics.
The takeaway
Scott plans to share her findings with peers to foster interest in materials science at the university level. Her work highlights the critical trade-off researchers must navigate between functional water resistance and material transparency.
Further reading
Learn more about local scientific efforts on the Materials Science page.
More information
Find additional details on the APSU physics research opportunities information.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Clarksville, TN Online.
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