May 8, 2008

Biofuels Symposium 2008 to highlight sustainability, policy issues

Experts will discuss research advancements and the policy and sustainability issues facing the ethanol and biodiesel industries during Purdue's Biofuels Symposium 2008 on May 19-20.

Speakers at the two-day event, led by the Energy Center in Discovery Park will include top executives from the biofuels industry, government officials and leading academic researchers from Princeton and Purdue universities and the University of Massachusetts. Symposium events will be held in second-floor meeting rooms in Stewart Center.

Keynote speaker Jim Fischer, senior scientific advisor for the U.S.Department of Agriculture's Research Education, and Economics Mission Area, will kick off the event with his presentation, "Biofuels Research and Development Strategic Plan," at 1:15 p.m. May 19 in Stewart Center, Room 218.

Sessions on day one will continue through 5 p.m., and a poster session also is planned that day. The morning session May 20 carries the theme biofuel economic and policy issues, while the afternoon will focus on the new frontiers in biofuels and bioenergy for the bio-economy.

For the two-day schedule of the event sponsored by Discovery Park's Energy Center, go to:

http://www.purdue.edu/dp/energy/2008biofuels/program%20agenda.php. A PDF version of a detailed agenda also can be downloaded at:

http://www.purdue.edu/dp/energy/pdfs/bio_detailed_agenda_08.pdf.

To register online for the symposium, go to
http://www.purdue.edu/dp/energy/2008biofuels/index.php.

The Energy Center, created with seed money from the Lilly Endowment, facilitates high-impact, multidisciplinary projects in energy alternatives and consumption. The center is focused on developing economical and environmentally sound energy alternatives and to help change policies and perceptions about energy consumption.

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu