REU Site: INFEWS: Food, Energy, and Water Security

密西西比州立大学的托德Mlsna教授、Debra Mlsna教授及其同事主持了一个REU网站：INFEWS：食品、能源和水安全。该项目由化学部的REU网站计划资助。学生专注于水，能源和土壤系统的生物产品研究。为期10周的课程允许8名学生每年夏天在工程，化学和环境科学的联系中进行合作研究项目。年轻的科学家加入研究团队，致力于解决真实的世界问题。教育经验侧重于理解环境问题，强调跨学科方法，从而培养从事环境工作的科学家和训练有素的劳动力。研讨会和教育部分鼓励未来职业的创业思维。该项目侧重于可再生生物产品。具体的学生项目包括将生物质和能源作物转化为生物燃料，重点是生物合成气生产和生物油;利用生物炭（生物燃料生产副产品）进行水净化和土壤改良，以及利用生物炭和脱盐方法有效清洁废水。学生使用的仪器包括：气相色谱，质谱，扫描电子显微镜（SEM），透射电子显微镜（TEM）和核磁共振光谱（NMR）来表征生物炭与吸附剂的界面。关于职业道路和创业精神的研讨会支持关注环境行业的小企业和监管问题。该网站支持和培训学生在关键的粮食，能源和水安全问题的相关领域。 这些项目培养全球参与的科学家。

Professors Todd Mlsna, Debra Mlsna and colleagues at Mississippi State University host an REU Site: INFEWS: Food, Energy, and Water Security. This project is funded by the REU Site Program of the Division of Chemistry. Students focus on bio-product research for water, energy, and soil systems. The 10-week program allows 8 students per summer to pursue collaborative research projects at the nexus of Engineering, Chemistry and Environmental Science. Young scientists join research teams focused on solving real world problems. Educational experiences focus on understanding environmental issues with an emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches, leading to the development of environmentally-engaged scientists and a better-trained workforce. Seminars and educational components encourage entrepreneurial thinking for future careers. This project focuses on renewable bio-products. Specific student projects include the conversion of biomass and energy crops into biofuels, with an emphasis on bio-syngas production and bio-oil; the utilization of biochar (a biofuel production by-product) for water purification and soil amendment, and the uses of biochar and desalination approaches to efficiently clean wastewater. The instrumentation used by the students includes: gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) to characterize the biochar interface with adsorbents. Seminars on career paths and entrepreneurship support a focus toward small business and regulatory concerns in environmental industries. This site supports and trains students in areas related to crucial food, energy and water security concerns. The projects develop globally engaged scientists.