Achievement

One of the two interdisciplinary courses developed specifically for our IGERT scholars, “Bioenergy Technology”, has been designated a regular university course at the graduate level. In the Fall 2011 semester, this course was opened to non-IGERT students for the first time, and the final enrollment was about 40% non-IGERT students. This course covers all aspects of the science and technology required to produce bioenergy, beginning with photosynthesis and ending with engine and fuel technology. Each topic is presented as a combination of lecture, discussion of current journal articles, and a laboratory experience. The course is team-taught by faculty members participating in the IGERT program, and is capped by a group project in which the students propose a complete bioenergy production system, from feedstock to analysis.