![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/magazine\/files\/2012\/02\/newman-7M2F0526.jpg\")
<\/a>In both sports and science research, Cody Newman says, “you’re working with other people to try and move a project forward.\u201d Photograph by Phyllis Graber Jensen.<\/p><\/div>\n
About the time that Lasagna was discovering Newman\u2019s creative ability to break down and refine key parts of his sport, something similar was happening in Dana Chemistry Hall, where Professor of Chemistry Rachel Austin noticed Newman\u2019s similarly intense and thorough academic work.<\/p>\n
Among other things, Austin is an oil expert. She knows how certain enzymes can break down crude oil into water and carbon dioxide (useful for oil-spill cleanups), and how heat and pressure can turn biomass into what\u2019s called pyrolysis oil.<\/p>\n
In this latter work, Austin is working with the Forest Byproducts Research Institute, headquartered at the University of Maine. Specifically, she\u2019s part of one project to find ways to turn wood waste into heating and transportation fuels.<\/p>\n
Unrefined pyrolysis oil has water and oxygen in it, making it ineffective as a lubricant or energy source, so researchers are trying to find catalysts that can kick-start various chemical reactions to refine the oil.<\/p>\n
Enter Newman, whose honors thesis evaluated catalysts containing the metal ruthenium. As a junior, his thesis proposal won a national Beckman scholarship for outstanding undergraduate research. As a senior, Newman won the Milton L. Lindholm Scholar-Athlete Award for the highest GPA among varsity athletes, at 3.94.<\/p>\n
Newman accomplishes so much \u201cwithout coming across as a person who obsesses and frets about his work.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\u201cCody\u2019s work,\u201d Austin says, \u201cis beginning to give us a way to understand how and why certain catalysts work the way that they do.\u201d His contribution, she adds, \u201cmoves us beyond just trying something and hoping for the best, which is where we have been.\u201d<\/p>\n
Newman\u2019s thesis is remarkable in another sense, Austin says. \u201cI\u2019ve been sitting at my desk turning his thesis into a publication. In 15 years at Bates, I have never been able to start with a student thesis and turn it into a manuscript.\u201d<\/p>\n
In lacrosse, Newman is a faceoff specialist, meaning he trots onto the field at the start of each quarter and after each goal. When the official gives the \u201cdown\u201d command, Newman and his opponent place their hands and crosses on the ground, parallel to the midfield line.<\/p>\n
The official places the ball between the players\u2019 nets, gives the \u201cset\u201d command, and blows the whistle. By rule, the official must vary the cadence between \u201cset\u201d and the whistle.<\/p>\n
Thus sprung into action, the players try to outmuscle and outmaneuver each other. Tactically, \u201cit\u2019s like a game of rock, paper, scissors,\u201d Lasagna says, each player using various moves and counter moves to control the ball.<\/p>\n