Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering Student Earns National Conference Scholarship

February 4, 2019
bbe scholarship

A dozen university-level science majors interested in learning about all aspects of the biodiesel industry, including CFANS Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering (BBE) student Kelly Martichuski, received travel scholarships to attend the National Biodiesel Conference & Expo in San Diego this January. Some of the students, who are members of the Next Generation Scientists for Biodiesel, also received invitations to present on their research. 

Next Generation Scientists for Biodiesel is a National Biodiesel Board program intended to foster professional relationships between budding and established scientists, share accurate information, and increase collaboration with academia and the biodiesel industry.

Student opportunities included a poster session and breakout session to present their research, a preconference biodiesel educational overview, and a private mentoring mixer with prominent biodiesel scientists from throughout the nation.

Scholars came from schools including University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, Purdue University, Louisiana State University, Yamaguchi University in Japan, University of California Riverside, National University, Auburn University, North Carolina State University, Rowan University, Missouri University of Science and Technology and NMAM Institute of Technology-Nitte in India. Other students also attended from Iowa State University, Kansas State University, University of Kansas, and Seward County Community College.

Many of the students, who came from a wide range of disciplines, noted the impact the event had on them. Martichuski said that attending strengthened her beliefs behind biodiesel and other biofuels.

“I feel like I am able to share the ideas and numbers behind this industry more clearly and more confidently,” Martichuski said. “There is still a lot of research that can be carried out, so I am hoping that with all of the knowledge that I gained, I can come up with new research ideas and get results to bring awareness to the population about the great benefits of using biodiesel.”

The National Biodiesel Board, the United Soybean Board and the National Biodiesel Foundation sponsored the scholarships, which amounted to a $600 travel reimbursement and complimentary registration.

Made from an increasingly diverse mix of resources such as recycled cooking oil, soybean oil and animal fats, biodiesel is a renewable, clean-burning diesel replacement that can be used in existing diesel engines without modification. It is the nation’s first domestically produced, commercially available advanced biofuel. NBB is the U.S. trade association representing the entire biodiesel value chain, including producers, feedstock suppliers, and fuel distributors, as well as the U.S. renewable diesel industry.

Martichuski is pictured above in the front row, second person from the left.