Oklahoma State University Forms Biobased Products and Energy Center
Oklahoma State University’s Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources is creating a new Biobased Products and Energy Center.
The center was created to better meet increasing demands for the division’s scientific expertise regarding biofuels, said Robert E. Whitson, Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources dean and director and OSU vice president of agricultural programs.
“The main activity of the center will be to coordinate and provide leadership for the division’s bioenergy programs and serve as a liaison with the bioenergy industry,” said Bob Westerman, assistant vice president for program support at the Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.
The center is also expected to be a catalyst in identifying multidisciplinary priorities and enhance development of grants, contracts and cooperative agreements with government agencies, private industry, tribal nations and communities.
Westerman said key areas of emphasis will be identifying and developing biomass feedstock sources; logistics of harvest, handling and transport of feedstock and processed value-added products; development and enhancement of efficient biomass conversion processes and technology; increased efficiency in biobased fuels, materials and products; marketing and contractual assistance; and the determination of economic, social and environmental effects.
Ray Huhnke, OSU Cooperative Extension biosystems engineer with the division’s department of biosystems and agricultural engineering, will serve as center director.
In addition to his center duties, Huhnke will continue to serve as coordinator of the multi-college, multi-institutional OSU Biofuels Team. The team is comprised of scientists and engineers within the division; the OSU College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology; the University of Oklahoma; Mississippi State University and Brigham Young University.
Originally published by Journal Record Staff.
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