Biofuels, bioenergy conference Sept. 4-5

University Park, Pa. - A conference on bioenergy, sponsored by Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, will bring some of the best minds involved in the development of "green energy" to the University Park campus Sept. 4-5.

Dubbed "CrossOver 2007 -- Bioenergy: From Fields to Wheels," the event at the HUB-Robeson Center will feature researchers from Penn State and other universities, key government officials and industry partners involved in developing sustainable and renewable alternative energy sources, supplies and programs. The event is open to the public with registration.

Keynote speakers for the conference will be Kathleen McGinty, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection; Tom Foust, biomass program director, U.S. Department of Energy National Renewable Energy Laboratory; George Church, director, Harvard/MIT Genomes to Life Center; Richard Hess, biomass program technology manager, U.S. Department of Energy Idaho National Laboratory; and Steve Gray, vice president for global technology, General Electric Transportation Systems.

"The need for integrated research is particularly important in the bioenergy field, where there is a near infinite variety of diverse feedstocks and process combinations, and many opportunities to increase efficiency and enhance product value," says conference coordinator Tom Richard, associate professor of agricultural and biological engineering and director of the Penn State Biomass Energy Center.

Topics include plant production, plant transformation, materials harvest and transport, "saccharification" and fermentation, separations technologies, combustion and gasification, chemical catalysis, byproduct recovery and utilization, advanced power generation, and engine and vehicle testing.

"Wrapped around these technologies are the social, economic and ethical frameworks needed for bioenergy programs to achieve their potential, including planning, business and legal concerns," says Richard. "Penn State is fortunate to have faculty working in all these areas, many of whom are deeply engaged in relevant interdisciplinary research."

As part of the conference, Penn State tractors that have been running on biodiesel fuel will be on display on the HUB lawn, and an interactive poster session on bioenergy will be presented.

To learn more about the "CrossOver 2007 -- Bioenergy: From Fields to Wheels" program, contact Tom Richard at (814) 865-3722 or by e-mail at tlr20@psu.edu. For more information about registration, parking, accommodations, etc., contact Melissa Maurer at (814) 863-7025 or by e-mail at mll198@psu.edu. Visit the Web site at http://www.bioenergy.psu.edu/crossover2007 online.