Show & tell: Demand enhancement for cotton
Dr Seshadri Ramkumar says if knowledge on cotton is created in the minds of young people at school level, not only will it help with increasing market share over few years, research interest in cotton as a sustainable and advanced fiber can be nurtured.
Engagement and outreach, policy support, and new market creation will push cotton consumption upward.
Producer organisations, textile associations, and brands in two leading cotton producing nations, India and United States are engaged in good outreach to consumers and more importantly to Gen Z populations to create awareness on the uniqueness and advantages of cotton. The Nonwovens & Advanced Materials at Texas Tech University is outreaching to school students to create interest in cotton and showcasing unique advantages of cotton.
If knowledge on cotton is created in the minds of young people at school level, not only will it help with increasing market share over few years, research interest in cotton as a sustainable and advanced fiber can be nurtured.
For three years, the laboratory has been involved in showcasing the high-tech application of cotton to school children using hands-on and eye-catching demonstrations.
On January 30th 2026, amidst chilly weather, school children, parents, and academics assembled at the Ramirez Elementary School in Lubbock for STEM Night.
Why cotton and what new applications can be evolved were the themes of the show and tell by the Nonwovens & Advanced Materials Laboratory at Texas Tech University.
Oil absorption by cotton, which protects the environment was explained by a 9th grade student Aditya R of Lubbock High School with the support of Mirza Khyum, a graduate student in the laboratory. The aim of the presentation was to educate the audience in a simple way about cotton and take cotton beyond its established status as a commodity fiber.
Professionals like librarians who are not in the field of cotton, elementary school children, cotton researchers, and senior citizens participated in the engagement as the interaction was assisted with live demonstrations.
Tom Rohrig, librarian at Texas Tech University with 40-years of experience engaged in the live discussion along with Jenny Harland, Co-Chair of the Organizing Committee of STEM Night at Ramirez Elementary School.
It was such a relish to have Arsheen Suhayla, a second-grade student at Ramirez Elementary who was able to connect cotton with her father, Dr. Md. Abu Sayeed, who has done research in cotton. Arsheen interacted with Aditya to know how the product was made and was astonished to see the instantaneous absorption of oil by raw cotton.
It will help the cotton industry to take cotton to school students using demonstrations which will not only attract young minds but also public, who are important consumers.
Cathrine Prenot, the Chair of the Organizing Committee of STEM Night stopped for the live demonstration and was quick to point out that such applications are good for local crops, like cotton. It is clear from our years of engagement using demonstrations that it is easy to reach new consumers using touch and feel or demonstrations.
Education and marketing outreach should also focus young minds, and the industry must strategise to take cotton into advanced applications such as in the fields of medicine, environmental protection and industrial applications.
A three-minute demonstration and engagement with audience is available in the YouTube link:
About the author:
Dr Seshadri Ramkumar is a Professor, Nonwovens & Advanced Materials Laboratory in Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA. You can contact him on Email: s.ramkumar@ttu.edu
