About the Cluster
The Bioenergy and Bioproducts cluster is one of the four IREE (University of Minnesota Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Environment) clusters (“Hydrogen”, “Bioenergy & Bioproducts”, “Policy, Economics, & Ecosystems”, and “Conservation & Efficient Consumption”). This cluster is focused on converting renewable biomass into various forms of bioenergy and bioproducts.
Minnesota is blessed with significant natural resources for the production of large quantities and a wide variety of biomass. Scientific and technological advancements in the production, conversion, and utilization of agricultural, forestry, and other bio-based renewable sources such as substitute for fossil-fuel-based energy, chemicals and materials are needed. Converting biomass into energy or products using a variety of means including bocatalysis, Biorefining, and fermentation may replace our dependence on fossil fuel-based sources.
The cluster has expertise in crop and plant science, biological science, food science, biochemistry, biotechnology, biosystems and agricultural engineering, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, etc.
Cluster Goals
- To produce cutting-edge integrative scholarship in critical areas as defined by IREE
Cluster Criteria
- Multi-disciplinary composition and emphasis
- Focus on significant, unique, or potential University strengths
- Reflection of IREE and University of Minnesota mission
- Identifcation and incorporation of external partnerships
- Focus on key short- and long-term issues, challenges, and opportunities
Cluster Activities
- Identify strategic, comprephensive, collaborative, multi- and inter-disciplineary opportunities for research, outreach/technology transfer, demonstration and integradation inot teaching
- Identify and examine funding opportunities
- Assemble projects teams to propose and conduct scholarly activities based on ideas and opportunities
- Project team will be fluid, consisting of membership from more than one cluster
- Project teams will enlist expertise from business and industry, non-profits and foundations, citizens and communities, state and federal agencies
Cluster Co-leaders
- David Kittleson, Professor, Mechanical Engineering
- Roger Ruan, Professor, BAE, Center for Biorefining co-director
- Larry P. Wackett, Professor, Biochem, Molecular Biol/Biophy
- Donald L. Wyse, Professor, Agronomy & Plant Genetics
- Kenneth Bickel, Research Fellow, Mechanical Engineering
- Don Fosnacht, Director, Center for Applied Research and Technology Development, Natural Resources Research Institute