Bioenergy: Fueling the Future
Recognition of global climate change and an addiction to oil have forced plant-based biofuels to the forefront of current and future energy efforts, with a huge effort in Tennessee. In this freshman seminar, students will be presented with content and foundational knowledge of plant-based biofuels. Students will also gain and discover knowledge on the scientific and interdisciplinary facets of plant-based biofuels, both close to home and throughout the world. The objective of the seminar is to allow students to identify and evaluate trade-offs involved with plant-based biofuels to better base their views on this important and timely subject.
This seminar is tentatively scheduled to meet during First Session on TR from TBD.
Note: Please check the official timetable for the most up-to-date information about meeting times and locations and availability.
About the professors
Neal Stewart
Neal Stewart holds the Racheff Chair of Excellence in plant molecular genetics and is a professor in the Department of Plant Sciences at the University of Tennessee. Dr. Stewart has degrees from NC State (BS) and Virginia Tech (MS and PhD) with postdoctoral experience at the University of Georgia. Dr. Stewart’s research spans plant biotechnology, genomics, and ecology. He has been performing agricultural biotechnology and biotechnology risk assessment research since 1994 and is also interested broadly in uses for biotechnology in the environment. His research has been supported by various granting agencies including the USDA, NSF, EPA, NASA and various US military agencies. He is a key person in the newly-funded $135 M Oak Ridge National Laboratory Bioenergy Science Center who will be working to genetically improve switchgrass as a bioenergy crop. Dr. Stewart teaches graduate level courses in plant genomics and research ethics and a new undergraduate course in plant biotechnology and genetics. He has given scientific and lay-presentations around the US and in 16 countries. Dr. Stewart has authored or co-authored over 175 publications, including 4 books with 2 more books under contract. He’s married and his son is a UT junior in music.
Charlie Kwit took a PhD from LSU and is a former faculty member at Wittenberg University and is currently a research scientist at UT. His expertise is in plant ecology.
Contact Information
Email: nealstewart@utk.edu
Phone: 4-6487
Webpage: http://plantsciences.utk.edu/stewart.htm
Charles Kwit
Contact Information
This class is part of UT's Ready for the World initiative. Find out more about how UT is making its students Ready for the World.