Building trans-Atlantic graduate education programs in biorenewable resources

Area of Science:

• Renewable Energy
• Chemical Engineering
• International Education

Background:

• Rising motor fuel costs necessitate alternative energy solutions.
• The U.S. Energy Independence and Security Act mandates significant renewable fuel adoption.
• Agriculture offers potential for developing these renewable fuels.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore international collaborations for advancing renewable fuel technologies.
• To facilitate educational exchanges for scientists and engineers in renewable energy.
• To support the U.S. goal of replacing 36 billion gallons of motor fuel with renewables by 2022.

Main Methods:

• Established international partnerships between European and U.S. institutions.
• Facilitated 4-6 month graduate student and faculty exchanges.
• Organized two-week intensive courses in the U.S. and E.U. for students and faculty.
• Shared educational materials to promote knowledge transfer.

Main Results:

• 23 U.S. students exchanged to the E.U.; 29 E.U. students exchanged to the U.S.
• 38 U.S. students and 36 faculty participated in intensive programs.
• 5 E.U. students and 2 faculty participated in U.S. intensive programs.
• These exchanges foster global expertise in renewable fuel technologies.

Conclusions:

• International academic collaborations are vital for developing breakthrough renewable fuel technologies.
• Educational exchanges effectively train scientists and engineers to address energy challenges.
• These partnerships contribute to achieving national renewable energy targets and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.