As Marty Meehan takes the helm as President of the University of Massachusetts system he took a tour of the five campuses beginning with a stop at UMass Dartmouth Monday morning.

Meehan said his visit was a recognition of the impact the university is having on the local economy and a chance to celebrate all the work being done at the school specifically the university's research programs saying they are among the top three research institutions in the state.

"It's Harvard, it's M.I.T., and it's the University of Massachusetts," said Meehan "and often times the research being down with marine biology in New Bedford, with the fishing industry, that's research that has an impact on the economy of Massachusetts, so that's a very important part of the UMass mission and one I think we need to highlight."

In keeping with this belief Meehan's visit included an upclose look at a lab that for the past five years has been conducting research into more environmentally friendly plastic.

"This is a lab that's engaged in research on bioplastics which are materials that are often biodegradable, they're environmentally friendly, and they're resuable," said Meehan "and they have been working with the fishing industry in New Bedford, and it's fabulous research and it has all kind of potential economic development pluses."
Meehan will be formally sworn in as President later this week.

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