LSU’s Value to Louisiana: 2025 Success Stories Highlight Research and Expertise Delivering Results

AGRICULTURE

Collaboration Brings Cost-Saving Drone Technology to Farmers

Agriculture is a $13 billion piece of the Louisiana economy. A new collaboration between LSU of Alexandria, the LSU AgCenter, and local Louisiana business Guardian Aerial is bringing precision agriculture to life, giving Louisiana farmers a new tool to add to their toolboxes. 

Biomedical

Researchers are pioneering a new antibiotic approach to outsmart resistant bacteria

In Louisiana and beyond, bacteria are evolving faster than medicine can keep up. Antibiotic resistance is growing, and once-powerful drugs are losing their punch.

At LSU, Department of Chemistry Professor Mario Rivera and his cross-disciplinary research team are trying to find a new class of antibiotics that focuses on a different part of bacteria physiology untouched by existing antibiotics. 

Coast

Innovation Powers the Nation's Most Trusted Hurricane Storm Surge Forecasting Tool

LSU’s Coastal Emergency Risks Assessment (CERA) tool provides real-time storm surge forecasts to protect lives, property, and entire communities—using supercomputers, advanced modeling, and now artificial intelligence.

Emergency management agencies in Louisiana and across the U.S. rely on CERA to decide when to evacuate, close floodgates, or move critical assets out of harm’s way. 

Cybersecurity

Students Staff LSU-Run Security Operations Centers to Protect Organizations and People 

With organizations in Louisiana and elsewhere facing costly and time-consuming recovery from cyber attacks, LSU leaders decided to take on the threats head-on. 

The result is an affordable, student-based solution for businesses and educational organizations that provides constant monitoring, early detection, and the expertise to act when an attack occurs, while also training tomorrow's cyber defenders. 

Energy

he new generation of advanced reactors provide an excellent source of process heat for chemical plants and refineries. About 20 percent of the electricity produced in the United States goes into process heat. 

– Photo courtesy of BASF Geismar

Nuclear Engineering Program Prepares Students for the Big Energy Era

In 2025, LSU strengthened Louisiana’s position in the future of clean, reliable energy by preparing students and professionals for the rapidly evolving nuclear sector.

Through events like Integrated Nuclear Energy Day and its nuclear engineering program, the university convened industry, government, and academic leaders to explore advanced reactor technologies, laying the groundwork for local economic growth and workforce development. 

Education

GeauxTeach STEM Program Prepares Educators for Louisiana’s Classrooms

Louisiana is facing a critical shortage of teachers, especially in subjects like math and science. That’s where LSU’s GeauxTeach program comes in.  

LSU’s GeauxTeach is helping fill that gap by preparing students with the skills to become the state’s next generation of teachers, giving them the chance to receive two degrees, a bachelor's degree and a secondary teaching certificate, in only four years. 

Industry

LSU Researchers Are Learning How to Make Metals and Ceramics that Can Take the Heat

At LSU’s Extreme Processing & Interfacial Complexions (EPIC) Lab, researchers are using combinations of extreme temperatures, extreme heating/cooling rates, and/or extreme pressures to fabricate high-performance structural materials for advanced applications, including in areas important to Louisiana industry.

Chris Marvel, assistant professor in LSU’s Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, oversees the EPIC lab and its team of undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers.