Civil and environmental engineering professor joins NAPA carbon emissions task force
Published: Feb 21, 2022 12:00 PM
By Virginia Speirs
Civil engineering assistant professor Benjamin Bowers is one of just three academics invited to join a one-year-old National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA) taskforce aimed at achieving zero net carbon emissions by 2050.
“It was an honor to be asked to serve on the task force that put together the National Asphalt Pavement Association’s goals, tactics, and research and implementation gaps for achieving such an important objective,” said Bowers, who specializes in sustainable and resilient pavements. “This really centers on a key component of my research program at Auburn and the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) — sustainability — and gives me an opportunity to work alongside and learn from industry leaders, allowing me to better understand the complexities of the industry and its challenges.”
NAPA’s four-part strategy for reducing carbon emissions involves achieving net-zero carbon emissions during asphalt production and construction, as well as reducing emissions through pavement quality, durability, longevity and efficiency standards. The taskforce is also intent on developing a net-zero materials supply chain and transitioning to renewable energy providers.
“Over 94% of pavements in the United States contain asphalt, so there is a serious opportunity to impact the carbon emissions of our built transportation network,” Bowers said.
Bowers’ research interests include sustainable design, infrastructure resilience, pavement materials, integration of reclaimed materials into pavement and cold recycling. He joined Auburn in 2018 and has more than 30 published peer-reviewed journals.
“This is the type of opportunity I dreamed of one day having in my career,” Bowers said. “I just never thought it would happen so quickly.”
For more about NAPA net-zero carbon emissions goals, visit https://www.asphaltpavement.org/climate
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