NSF IGERT Program in Multidisciplinary Approaches to Sustainable Bioenergy

NSF IGERT 可持续生物能源多学科方法项目

• 批准号: 0801707
• 负责人: Kenneth Reardon
• 金额: $ 293.5万
• 依托单位: Colorado State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2008
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2008-07-15 至 2015-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0801707&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: NSF; IGERT; Program; Multidisciplinary; Approaches

Demand for fuel is increasing, while petroleum production levels are near their peak and there is a growing awareness of the problem of greenhouse gas generation. Alternative, renewable, and sustainable energy sources will be needed to meet future energy demands. Biofuels, produced from plant-based materials, are an attractive option. However, the biofuels industry must be developed in an integrated manner so that the goals of economic, environmental, and sociological sustainability are achieved. This will require a new generation of scientists and engineers who understand the entire spectrum of biorefining technology and also appreciate the ecological, economic, and social impacts of their technological decisions. Similarly, economists with exposure to the technological aspects of the biorefining industry will be better poised to develop accurate policies. Such interdisciplinary training does not currently exist. This Integrative Graduate Education and Research Training (IGERT) award supports the development of the Integrated Graduate Education in Biorefining and Biofuels program, which will prepare PhD graduates to have a comprehensive perspective on the biofuels industry. Four focus areas define this integrated and comprehensive training: crop sciences and plant biotechnology; biomass conversions; product engineering; and economic and environmental assessment. This program incorporates cross-disciplinary teamwork, coursework in multiple disciplines, and research projects that span focus areas. The program will work to increase the numbers underrepresented students receiving doctoral degrees in science, technology, and engineering, and will include a collaboration with Colorado State-Pueblo. Graduates of this IGERT program will be uniquely prepared to have high-impact careers and to contribute to the biofuels industry. IGERT is an NSF-wide program intended to meet the challenges of educating U.S. Ph.D. scientists and engineers with the interdisciplinary background, deep knowledge in a chosen discipline, and the technical, professional, and personal skills needed for the career demands of the future. The program is intended to catalyze a cultural change in graduate education by establishing innovative new models for graduate education and training in a fertile environment for collaborative research that transcends traditional disciplinary boundaries.

对燃料的需求正在增加，而石油生产水平接近高峰，人们越来越认识到温室气体产生的问题。 为了满足未来的能源需求，将需要替代、可再生和可持续的能源。 用植物材料生产的生物燃料是一个有吸引力的选择。 然而，生物燃料工业必须以综合的方式发展，以便实现经济，环境和社会可持续性的目标。 这将需要新一代的科学家和工程师，他们了解生物精炼技术的整个范围，并了解其技术决策的生态，经济和社会影响。 同样，接触生物精炼行业技术方面的经济学家将更有能力制定准确的政策。 目前还没有这种跨学科的培训。 该综合研究生教育和研究培训（IGERT）奖支持生物精炼和生物燃料综合研究生教育计划的发展，该计划将使博士毕业生对生物燃料行业有全面的认识。 四个重点领域确定了这种综合和全面的培训：作物科学和植物生物技术;生物质转化;产品工程;经济和环境评估。 该计划包括跨学科的团队合作，多学科的课程，以及跨越重点领域的研究项目。 该计划将致力于增加获得科学，技术和工程博士学位的代表性不足的学生人数，并将包括与科罗拉多州普韦布洛的合作。 该IGERT计划的毕业生将为具有高影响力的职业生涯做好独特的准备，并为生物燃料行业做出贡献。IGERT是一个NSF范围内的计划，旨在满足教育美国博士的挑战。具有跨学科背景的科学家和工程师，在所选学科的深厚知识，以及未来职业需求所需的技术，专业和个人技能。该计划旨在通过建立创新的研究生教育和培训新模式，在超越传统学科界限的合作研究的肥沃环境中促进研究生教育的文化变革。