UWS leading the way in bio-fuels research
By David Greenberg
9/10/2009
At the 2009 Bio-Fuel and Energy Independence Symposium held on the UW-Superior campus on Sept. 3, ideas and presentations on the making and preserving of biomass fuel sources were considered by a think tank of some of the Midwest's leading minds in the study of energy independence options. Among them were faculty and researchers from UWS.
Through funding by the American Science and Technology Company, researchers at UWS have been searching through the biomass (plant life) of Northern Wisconsin/Minnesota to be used for making bio-diesel fuel. Their studies over the last year have begun to prove that common plant life such as red pine, jack pine, common milkweeds and other plants growing natively may be more efficient to produce into fuel.
“Energy independence comes first of all,” says Daniel Levings, Assistant Research Specialist and UWS Alumnus, “as well as new fuels to combat global warming. But also because we have very few options for widespread fuels for transportation. And there is still a lot of work to be done.”
Closer to the campus, this research is also benefiting the students of the sciences here at UWS. New instruments purchased this summer for the bio-fuel research will be included in courses such as Instrumental Analysis.
Opportunities have also been given to students as research assistants, Damodar Koirala and Kurt Hokriede working with the new DSC machine and literature research, and Mitsuharu Ishizawa conducting work in enzyme catalyst conversion.
Dr. James Lane, UWS Faculty overseeing the three student researchers, expressed his hopes to add more student assistants to this great opportunity. When asked if this research might be studied by other students in the classrooms of UWS, he stated he hadn't thought of it, but that it wasn't a bad idea.
For more information on the research presented at this year's Bio-Fuel and Energy Independence Symposium, you may contact Dr. James Lane and Dr. Michael Waxman, or direct your questions to the American Science and Technology office in the basement of Barstow.
Through funding by the American Science and Technology Company, researchers at UWS have been searching through the biomass (plant life) of Northern Wisconsin/Minnesota to be used for making bio-diesel fuel. Their studies over the last year have begun to prove that common plant life such as red pine, jack pine, common milkweeds and other plants growing natively may be more efficient to produce into fuel.
“Energy independence comes first of all,” says Daniel Levings, Assistant Research Specialist and UWS Alumnus, “as well as new fuels to combat global warming. But also because we have very few options for widespread fuels for transportation. And there is still a lot of work to be done.”
Closer to the campus, this research is also benefiting the students of the sciences here at UWS. New instruments purchased this summer for the bio-fuel research will be included in courses such as Instrumental Analysis.
Opportunities have also been given to students as research assistants, Damodar Koirala and Kurt Hokriede working with the new DSC machine and literature research, and Mitsuharu Ishizawa conducting work in enzyme catalyst conversion.
Dr. James Lane, UWS Faculty overseeing the three student researchers, expressed his hopes to add more student assistants to this great opportunity. When asked if this research might be studied by other students in the classrooms of UWS, he stated he hadn't thought of it, but that it wasn't a bad idea.
For more information on the research presented at this year's Bio-Fuel and Energy Independence Symposium, you may contact Dr. James Lane and Dr. Michael Waxman, or direct your questions to the American Science and Technology office in the basement of Barstow.