May 5, 2009

Biofuels Symposium to look at economic, environmental impacts

The Second Generation Biofuels Symposium will be May 18-19. It is sponsored by the Energy Center and the Center for the Environment at Discovery Park and the Purdue Climate Change Research Center.

Five sessions are scheduled on economic and policy issues, environmental impacts, biochemical conversion, thermochemical conversion, and feedstock development and production.

"The symposium will bring together multidisciplinary academic, industry and government experts from around the country to share their knowledge about global sustainability of biofuels," Energy Center director Jay Gore said. "This is thanks to the efforts of symposium organizers and Purdue professors Wally Tyner (chair), Nate Mosier, Rex Reklaitis, Ron Turco and Klein Ileleji."

Otto Doering, Purdue professor of agricultural economics, will give the keynote speech on "Biofuels as Wicked Problems."

Other speakers will come from government, the biofuels industry and several universities, including Purdue, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Wisconsin and Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.

Cost of the symposium is $130 for the public and $50 for Purdue faculty and staff. Purdue students can attend for $15 including meals, free without meals. Preregistration is suggested but not required.

The symposium will be in Stewart Center. Complete information and registration are available online at https://www.purdue.edu/dp/energy/events/2009biofuels/

Writer: Judith Barra Austin, 765-494-2432, jbaustin@purdue.edu  

Sources: Wendy Madore, 765-494-6792, wmadore@purdue.edu    

Jay Gore, gore@purdue.edu

John Bickham, director of the Center for the Environment, bickham@purdue.edu  

Noah Diffenbaugh, interim director of the Climate Change Research Center, diffenbaugh@purdue.edu

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

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