BBE NEWSLETTER // WINTER 2015

BioBriEf

Three BBE faculty are demonstrating ways of tackling that elephant. Omar

Espinoza, Jason Hill, and Tim Smith ap-proach sustainable issues from di� erent directions, but all three of them look at systems as a whole. Espinoza investigates how new products and processes can sup-port the sustainability of the forest industry. Hill and Smith look at sustainability in food and energy systems. Hill focuses more on the agricultural production side, and on the environmental impacts of producing energy or food. Smith’s studies start closer to consumption, working with companies like Walmart and Smith� eld Farms to help them look at the costs and impacts of their inputs and outputs.

To get the big picture that sustainable solu-tions require, their research teams need to collect, sort and analyze a lot of data. � e end product of their work can help clarify options and reveal the implications of choices to help companies, producers, and also policy makers and regulators make better decisions.

“When you start thinking in systems you see relationships between things and include feedback loops,” Smith says. “� is is one

SYSTEMS APPROACH TO ADDRESSING SUSTAINABILITY: BREAKING NEW GROUNDBy JENNY OBST, Photos by DAVID HANSEN

Sustainability is like the elephant in the room. It’s easy to see its importance, but dif� cult to see whole. Yet it is only by looking at it holistically that sustainable solutions to our world’s problems can be found.

Professor Jason Hill in front of the BBE South Building. Hill’s research focuses on bioenergy, sustainability and life cycle analysis.

ERIN OMBERG, EDITOR AND CONTRIBUTOR

BioBriEfSYSTEMS APPROACH TO ADDRESSING SUSTAINABILITY: BREAKING NEW GROUND continued from page 1

of the tools we try to give our students—an understanding that the world is not linear, but o� en looks like circles.”

“We train people how to si� through information and ask good ques-tions in the � rst place.” Hill adds.

� is work o� en includes life cycle analysis to track material and energy � ows through a system. Life cycle analysis looks at tradeo� s among im-pacts. For example, use of one material may reduce carbon emissions, but may have negative e� ects on water or air quality. Life cycle analysis also looks at shi� ing of inputs across stages of the life cycle. For exam-ple, switching from aluminum cans to plastic bottles using a byproduct of petrochemical process might reduce energy use in production, but create challenges at the back end of the life cycle in recycling.

A sustainable approach quickly reveals that everything is interconnect-ed. For example, one of Hill’s current projects is looking at the impacts of decisions to support human health on climate change. “Take transfat labeling,” he says. “Consumers have been moving away from transfats and towards saturated fats due to health concerns. � at has resulted in changes in the formulations of foods, which leads to changes in crops grown. And this has impacts on the environment and implications for climate change. So we try to make good decisions for our health, but until you look at the big picture, we don’t think of how those decisions might also a� ect the environment.”

� e � eld of bioenergy is full of examples of these tradeo� s and chal-lenges. Both Hill and Smith are working on large projects funded by USDA on turning trees and grasses into jet fuel and other products now made from oil. � e problem is that breaking down the sugars in feedstocks like trees and grasses to make fuels takes quite a bit of en-ergy, and produces a lot of residues. For this process to be economically feasible uses must be found for this material. A sustainable solution must look at all the advantages and drawbacks of every option.

Sustainable systems look at how to keep things in the system, rather than using up inputs and adding more. For example, one of Espinoza’s studies focuses on how lumber residues can be used to generate both electricity and heat. � is cogeneration is much more e� cient. But there are barriers to adoption that must be addressed, including transporta-tion of the residues, and policy barriers, such as di� culties in selling back electricity to the grid.

Graduate Research Assistant and doctorate student Maria Fernanda Laguarda Mallo displays samples of Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT), a product on which she and her academic advisor, Professor Omar Espinoza, focus their research.

HOW SUSTAINABLE IS YOUR CAR?One research project that illustrates the complex nature of sustainability is a recent study by Jason Hill and his colleagues on the human health effects of the different ways of powering cars—gasoline, biofuels, hybrid, or electricity. “We looked at where pollution is emitted when fuels are produced and used, as well as where this pollution travels and where people live. From this information we calculated how many premature deaths might occur due to being exposed to this pollution, and the economic cost of this loss of human life to society,” he says. The most sustainable choice, it seems, depends on where you are. If you are in an area that gets its electricity largely from hydropower, for example, then an electric car may be less harmful than one running on gasoline, but in areas where electricity is produced by coal, electric cars may be worse. By looking at all the inputs and the system as a whole, you can see where the tradeoffs are, and make your decision.

For more information about the research of Hill and his colleagues on life cycle air quality impacts of transportation, please view the animated video infographic abstract at z.umn.edu/RRE.

2

Another example of a sustainable solution is looking at what under-used materials can be better used. Espinoza is looking at market opportuni-ties for new wood-based materials and technologies. One, called Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT), uses low value trees to create a high value-added product. CLT creates massive multi layered panels made from solid wood layers that are glued together to improve rigidity, stability and mechanical properties. � ese are created in the factory to size, and moved to the building site where a small crew can assemble them.

What is clear is that sustainable practices require a new way of thinking. To meet this need, BBE faculty, working together with faculty across the University, are designing a new major in Sustainable Systems Manage-ment, which looks at the full range of economic, environmental and social impacts. � e new major acknowledges that e� ective leaders in the modern world will have to have not only a strong quantitative skill set, but a deep understanding of our connected world, and an ability to ask the right questions.

Espinoza, Hill and Smith all recognize that an important part of their work is to connect with producers and practitioners, and help educate them in the opportunities and limitations in using the information from their research. “Our work is timely, but won’t have an impact un-less people have access to it,” Hill says. “In the world of practice it’s not about what ifs,’ it’s about what to do.” Smith says.

� e world of bioproducts and biosystems—the green world—more and more demands a bigger view. BBE doesn’t own the sustainability issue, these faculty members point out. But BBE is in a unique position to look at this interconnected world to help � nd sustainable solutions to make this a better place for all.

BBE ADVISORY COUNCIL BOARDWelcome New Board MembersIt is with great enthusiasm that we announce three newly elected BBE Advisory Council Board Members: Ted Bather of AMEC (reelected), Walter Eshenaur of SRF Consulting, and HS Muralidhara formerly of Cargill (now retired). Their elected term reaches to the year 2017. Congratulations Ted, Walter, and Murali on your appointed roles.

These newly elected board members and their BBE Advisory Council Board peers met for their biannual meeting on October 29, amid the Showcase events at the St. Paul Student Center. Board members

engaged in lively discussions topics such as perspective students and enrollment projections, and research and lab space improvements.

We are sincerely thankful to our new board members and our return-ing board members for their generosity of time, expertise and com-mitment to BBE. Interested in joining and contributing to the Advisory Council? Contact Tracy Fallon at tfallon@umn.edu. For additional information on the BBE Advisory Council and Board, see www.bbe.umn.edu/advisory-council.

New board members include (from left) Walter Eshenaur, Ted Bather, and HS Murali Muralidhara.

Professor Tim Smith’s research focuses on corporate sustainability, product stewardship and marketing communications, all of which play an

important role in BBE’s dedication to sustainable systems research.

3

BioBriEf

SCHOLARSHIP LUNCHEON72 Students’ Excellent Academic Accomplishments Applauded

The Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering invited over 150 guests—industry partners, alumni, and student’s family members—to the North Star Ballroom to celebrate students

receiving departmental scholarship funded during the 2014-2015 school year over a luncheon. Due the grand generosity of donors, 72 undergraduate students were awarded scholarships, awards totaling $152,000 toward their BBE education. � anks and credit goes to charitable alumni and industry donors for their contributions. � ese gi� s covered the $50,000 increase from the previous $102,000 in awards to 50 students in 2013.

� e Keynote Speaker of the luncheon was Dr. Bernard Janse, the Director of Innovations at Buckman Laboratories International, in Memphis, Tennessee. His presentation, “� e End Game,” related to his overarching message of leadership. He urged students to always keep in mind how to reach an end goal through leadership skill growth and development. His insight on � exibility and change in college settings as well as workplace settings was well received by those attending.

Rusty Zimmerman, an Environmental and Ecological Engineering track senior and recipient of the Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Alumni Scholarship, shared, “Dr. Janse, spoke about leadership in ways I have not thought about before and has helped me out. My favorite

ANNUAL BBE SHOWCASE

CELEBRATING DEPARTMENT ACHIEVEMENTSAnnually BBE hosts a day’s worth of celebratory events. This year’s day of events, now titled the Annual BBE Showcase, gathered together BBE stakeholders to participate in Advisory Council meetings, the Scholarship Recognition Luncheon, and the Research Poster Session and Networking Reception. The BBE Showcase is a � tting new title for a day already rooted in tradition. The day’s events prominently and proudly celebrate the continued strengths and generosity of our department, friends and industry partners. This year’s BBE Showcase was held on October 29, in the North Star Ballroom, in the St. Paul Student Center, located on the St. Paul Campus.

remark of his was that the � rst step into great leadership is to � rst understand yourself and your personality. It holds truth in my role as the president of my fraternity. In order to lead, I need to understand what type of leader I am personally. Going into any discussion, I need to understand what my skills are and also how am I going to be able to e� ectively communicate with the others at the table.”

Following Dr. Janse’s keynote, student scholarship recipients were hon-ored on stage. Professor Ulrike Tschirner emceed while students received their scholarship certi� cates. Present to congratulate students were BBE alumna and ASABE past-president Sonia Maassel Jacobsen, BBE alumnus, Advisory Council Board Chair and Viking Forest Products President and owner Bruce Johnson, as well as BBE Department Head Shri Ramaswamy.

By contributing to the department’s scholarship funding, donors provide educational opportunities to well-deserving students of all class levels. Donors are directly investing in industry’s next generation of leaders and entrepreneurs when investing in the education of a student. � e Depart-ment of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering would like to thank all of our generous supporters for giving our scholarship students the op-portunity to forever improve the course of their lives through educational funding.

Please consider contributing to next year’s BBE scholarships. For more information, visit our Give to BBE webpage for more information at www.bbe.umn.edu/giving. � ere you will � nd information on di� erent methods for giving, contact information, as well as information regard-ing the various endowed scholarships.

Dr. Bernard Janse of Buckman International on stage for his keynote presentation.

Seventy-two students were awarded departmental scholarships for the 2014-2015 academic year.

4

RESEARCH POSTER SESSION AND NETWORKING RECEPTIONA Banner Participation and Attendance Year

In the a� ernoon of Wednesday, October 29, BBE hosted a Research Poster Session and Networking Reception in the North Star Ballroom. � is event was open to the public, all were welcomed. � e successful research poster session

provided nearly 200 guests with the opportunity to learn about 53 di� erent BBE projects which were presented by 118 poster contributors/authors. Five research categories were represented at the session: (1) Bioproducts and Renewable Energy, (2) Advanced Building Systems and Energy E� ciency, (3) Environment and Ecology, (4) Food Production Processing, Safety & Security and (5) Sustainability.

Also at this event was presence from the CFANS Alumni Relations, and CSE Alumni Relations. Career and Internship Services was on hand to reach out to attendants. Student groups were well represented at the Showcase’s Poster Session, with participation from the TAPPI Student Chapter, the ASABE Student Chapter, and the RBST Club.

Poster session coordinator and BBE Assistant Scientist Lucas Stolp said, “� is year’s poster session was another � ne showcasing of the excellent research being conduct-ed throughout BBE. � e number of presenters this year was the most we’ve had to date. � e industry representatives I spoke with were thoroughly impressed with the knowledge of the presenters, and were excited about the variety of topics covered by the department.”

� ank you to all of those that attended the poster session and networking reception to make 2014 a banner year. For a complete list of research poster titles, please visit www.bbe.umn.edu/alumni-friends/showcase. � is is an annual, open to the public poster session, so in the summer watch for the announcement of when next year’s Showcase will take place. See you then!

Above: Guests lined the corridors of research posters in the North Star Ballroom, learning about the variety of areas BBE explores.

Below: Professor Pat Huleman converses with Professor Ce Yang about the research poster to which he contributed, titled

“A Novel Approach for a Foundation Insulation Retro� t.” 5

BioBriEfFACULTY SPOTLIGHT

MEET THE NEWEST FACULTY MEMBERS OF BBEBBE has many distinguished faculty members. Take a look at some of our passionate and inspiring new faculty members. The following three new professors are already at work enhancing the department’s teaching and research.

Where are you originally from, and where did you attend undergraduate and graduate school?

I am originally from a place called Star Valley, Wyoming--it is just south of Jackson Hole, WY. I attended Utah State University for my B.S. and M.S. degrees, and I attended Mon-tana State University for my Ph.D.

What courses do you teach for BBE?

I co-teach BBE 2201 – Renewable Energy and � e Environment with David Schmidt.

What do you enjoy most about teaching and why?

I enjoy teaching progressive educational topics that include new frontiers of scienti� c research. I also � nd a lot of enjoyment in mentoring young scientists and to show them how their BBE education is applicable in the real world.

What is your area of research?

Renewable Energy Systems and Sustainability. I focus on the interface between microbiol-ogy and biochemical engineering in order to utilize microbes as biocatalysts which convert waste streams into useful products using renewable energy sources.

What motivated you in your interest in this � eld?

I started working with fuels in 2006, initially with rocket fuel systems but quickly realized I enjoy biological systems as they are always challenging and interesting. Given my background in instrumentation, chemical reaction/di� usion, and metabolic

biochemical pathways, I shi� ed to microbial derived renewable transportation fuels. I � nd a lot of interest in progressive approaches using microbial systems to o� set petroleum feedstocks.

What excites you about joining the BBE department?

� e BBE department is a unique and diverse department. It has professors from multiple disciplines, creating a truly interdisciplinary curriculum. I believe this training to be very important as modern research projects are interdisciplinary and it is very important for engineers to understand the vocabulary of chemists, microbiologists, mathematicians, physicists, and others such that these projects can be properly researched.

What do you enjoy most about living in the Twin Cities?

I don’t actually live in the Twin Cities. I’m housed at the West Central Research and Outreach Center (WCROC) in Morris, MN. � is is a unique opportunity for me and my students to work with agricultural entities. I like the demonstration opportunities that living and working in Morris o� ers. I also like being in the heart of agricultural culture and can interact with real-world farmers.

What are three things your students would be surprised to learn about you?

I grew up on a cattle ranch in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. I worked as a sta� scientist on rocket fuel systems for NASA and the US Department of Defense. I collaborate with universities and research labs around the world.

Rob Gardner ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, Joint with West Central Research and Outreach Center – Morris, MN

6

Where are you originally from, and where did you attend undergraduate and graduate school?

I grew up in northwestern North Carolina, and have a BS in Agriculture from Berea College in Berea, Kentucky, and a MS in Agronomy from Kansas State University.

What do you enjoy most about your extension role and why?

I really enjoy the opportunities to take scienti� c principles and put them into a real world context that farmers and the general public can understand and use to make pro� table decisions.

What is your area of research?

My research explores the role of water uptake in nitrogen assimilation in crops, and the resulting impacts on nitrate contamination in groundwater.

What motivated you in your interest in this � eld?

As an agronomist and parent that lived in areas with nitrate contaminated groundwater, I have struggled with the realities of poor nitrogen and irrigation water management. My interest

is answering the questions about meeting the increasing global demands for food security while leaving a legacy of clean drinking water for future generations.

What excites you about joining the BBE department?

Being able to interact with colleagues with engineering expertise, to develop management tools that rapidly integrate multiple data streams.

What do you enjoy most about living in the Twin Cities?

Having great parks and recreational opportunities in the midst of very active communities. And Lute� sk church suppers. A good nighttime cross-country ski session, followed by a Lute� sk supper in a church basement is my idea of a good time.

What are three things your students would be surprised to learn about you?

I can tightrope walk, I race mountain bikes at the elite level domestically, and am still involved in the family Christmas tree farm back in North Carolina.

Where are you originally from, and where did you attend undergraduate and graduate school?

I’m originally from Beijing, China. I attended China Agricultural University and received a BS in Electrical Engineering, and an MS in Agricultural Engineering from CAU. � en I attended the University of Florida for my degree of Master’s in Computer Science, and my Ph.D. in Agricultural Engineering.

What courses do you teach?

I will teach SOIL 4111: Introduction to Precision Agriculture in Spring 2015.

What do you enjoy most about teaching?

In� uencing students by teaching them key knowledge and the perspective of precision agriculture. I also enjoy interacting with students about the newest and coolest technologies applied in precision agriculture.

What is your area of research?

I primarily focus on precision agriculture, agricultural robotics, remote sensing, computer vision, hyperspectral imaging and machine learning.

What motivated you in your interest in this � eld?

� ere is a large amount of waste in traditional

agriculture operations, such as excessive use of fertilizers and chemicals. � is not only causes lower pro� t for growers, but also causes environmental problems. In addition, we need to increase global food production in order to keep up with the rising populations. It is expected that by 2050, the population will be increased by 34%. Precision agriculture helps in reducing excessive use of fertilizers and chemicals, and increasing crop yield and therefore increasing grower’s pro� ts. � ese all are my motivations of working in this � eld, I am motivated to help toward solutions to these problems.

What excites you about joining the BBE department?

BBE has a great mix of research interests and personalities. I am very impressed with the department’s e� ort in focusing on student development.

What do you enjoy most about living in the Twin Cities?

I enjoy the fall colors and the snow in Twin Cities!

What is something interesting that your students would be surprised to learn about you?

I have drones in my lab, just not quite the kinds of drones you see in Iron Man movies.

Joshua Stamper ASSISTANT EXTENSION PROFESSOR, Joint with the Soil, Water and Climate Department

Ce Yang ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, Joint with the Soil, Water and Climate Department (MnDrive Faculty)

7

BioBriEfBioBriEfEfEBioBriEfUNDERGRADUATE SPOTLIGHT

BBE UNDERGRAD STUDENTS WIN REGIONAL COMPETITIONThe Environmental Challenge, co-hosted by the

Air & Waste Management Association – Upper Midwest Section1, and the Central States Water

Environment Association – Minnesota Section2, was held November 19, at the University of Minnesota Continuing Education and Conference Center. Participating together in the student-team challenge were Tahni Jungs, Rachel Kosse, Lizzy Selvik, and Aileen Zebrowski.

� e purpose of the Environmental Challenge is to test students’ abilities to solve a complex environmental problem that is typical of those facing environmental professionals. Success in the challenge intrinsically requires multidisciplinary approaches. Each of the teams that participated in the Environmental Challenge received scores from over a dozen judges for the written, interactive table-top, and formal presentation phases of the competition; they were judged on their understanding of the problem, technical accuracy of their solution, quality of their presentation, and ability to express their thoughts and ideas in a clear and professional manner.

� e true-to-life environmental dilemma given to undergraduate teams for this sixth annual competition was frank: Should the faux-company, Suds Industrial Laundry, continue using reusable towels, or switch to disposable?

To tackle the in-depth analysis of this simply stated question, the BBE student-team assigned themselves leadership roles. Jungst was the team’s Air Quality Engineer, Kosse was the Wastewater Engineer, Selvik the Energy Analyst, and Zebrowski the Materials Specialist. Members had speci� c strength areas to research, and would report back to the team for brainstorming and collaboration. “We considered having a Life Cycle Analyst, as the challenge coordinators suggested. But life cycle analyzing ended up being such a large part of our research; we didn’t want just one person to play that role, so we all did. It worked out very well,” shared Kosse.

� e verdict presented to the panel of judges, by this winning team of four, concluded that Suds Industrial Laundry Company should remain using reusable towels for their services. “� e margin between choosing reusable and disposable towels was close. People may think ‘Well, isn’t that obvious,’ but the truth is that it’s not. It turned out to be a lot more complex than we initially thought,” Selvik articulated. Zebrowski added, “We realized that some of our initial assumptions didn’t work, or we’d � nd out there was a better direction to steer our project.”

When asked how her education aided the team’s preparation, Kosse replied, “It seemed that every one of our classes was a small segment of the whole challenge. � e course work goes really well with competing in a challenge like this.”

As aforementioned, a goal of the organizers is for the challenge to be a true-to-life challenge and experience. “One thing I can take away from this challenge is the aspect and importance of teamwork and its real-world applicability. I know in the future I’ll be working with a team of engineers in my upcoming career. � is helped me prepare for that,” shared Jungst.

� is was the � rst year that each team member participated in the challenge. � e top place title for the rookies came with a $1,300 prize. � e team is interested in reprising their win next year, and will decide in September, based on their individual course schedules.

Pictured left to right:Rachel Kosse (CEM, ESPM sophomore from St. Joseph, MO)Lizzy Selvik (EEE, BBE sophomore from Cary, IL)Aileen Zebrowski (EnvE, CEGE sophomore from Madison, WI)Tahni Jungst (EEE, BBE sophomore from Morris, MN)

“The judges consistently scored Rachel, Lizzy, Aileen and Tahni’s solution and presentation at a high level across the criteria. Our hope as the organizers is that the teams get a glimpse of the kinds of problems and issues that environmental professionals face in our day-to-day work, and I think this U of M team took full advantage of the experience.”

-Chandler Taylor, AWMA-UMS Environmental Challenge Coordinator

8

THE BBE SNEAK PEEKSPEED-LEARNING A PERSONALIZED SUCCESS

ENROLLMENT INCREASING BBE ON THE RISE AMONG STUDENTS The infographic to the left illustrates just how prevalent our department’s students are becoming among the UMN undergraduate student body. Enrollment has steadily grown over the past few years. Undergraduate program enrollment numbers shown are segmented into Bioproducts Marketing and Management, Corporate Environmental Management, and Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering. This data has been gathered annually in the fall.

Professor and BBE Major Coordinator Ulrike Tschirner shares, “The growth in our program is a testament to our faculty and to our efforts to highlight our successes.”

Perspective students and their families rotated table to table in small groups learning about the six undergraduate tracks.

The BBE Sneak Peek, held on November 6, treated prospective students to a � rst-of-its-kind recruitment event. � is event introduces high school and transfer students, and their families

to BBE and provides an opportunity to visit and decide whether one of our majors is for them. � e Sneak Peek agenda included a welcome from Department Head Dr. Shri Ramaswamy, a presentation and Q and A session with counselors from the O� ce of Admissions, and speed-learning segment, followed by tours of research labs. Speed-learning is a bit like speed-dating, and has an educational spin. Prospective students rotated from table to table to meet current students, alumni and faculty from each of the department’s six undergraduate tracks (or major sub-plans). � ey received small group, special attention during the learning process.

BBE Associate Extension Professor Patrick Huelman, and Sneak Peek faculty participant, reviewed the event: “As a faculty member, I thought the new format was fun. But more than that, I think it served the prospective students very well. � e setting was more intimate and you could get a better sense of their interests. At this point in their college and career exploration, I think it is important for them to see the diverse portfolio of programs that BBE o� ers.”

� e BBE Sneak Peek is held twice a year, once in fall semester and once in the spring. Should you be interested in participating or attending the upcoming Sneak Peek in March, please contact Tracy Fallon at tfallon@umn.edu, or view our website at www.bbe.umn.edu/undergraduate/sneak-peek for more information.

The Department of BBE’s student enrollment has steadily increased twelve percent annually over recent years.

9

BioBriEf

Class of ‘82 and ‘86, Senior Associate at SRF Consulting Group

Where are you originally from; what was your major?

I grew up in Ethiopia. Upon graduating from high school in Ethiopia, moved to the states, and learned about the Agricultural Engineering Department. I received my Bachelor’s degree in Ag Engineering in 1982, and my Master’s in Engineering in 1986. In

1986, I returned to Ethiopia with my family where we worked in water resources and domestic water supply for thirteen years.

Where are you currently employed, what is your position?

When I returned from Ethiopia in 1999, I was hired by SRF Consulting Group where I just celebrated � � een years of service. My work involves a variety of water resources projects ranging from roadway drainage, to wetland and creek restoration, to water harvesting and reuse. I work in Minnesota and North Dakota primarily, with some projects in Wisconsin and farther a� eld.

How did you obtain your role there?

It has been said that your network is the most important thing for career development. Having been out of network in Africa for so many years, I was uncertain if I had a network any longer. I contacted several friends who I went to school with years earlier and found out that I did have a network, and through that network received an interview at SRF and was quickly hired.

What is the most rewarding part of your work in this position?

� e variety of work that we do is the most rewarding part of my work. I have ventured into some cutting edge best management practices such as water harvesting and reuse for irrigation or for toilet � ushing that are interesting and have great potential.

What are some important concepts/skills you learned while earning your degrees that have enhanced your career?

� e relationship between plants, soils, and water is by far the most important concept that I learned at BBE. In this day and age of stormwater treatment practices that leverage plant and soil properties for removing pollutants, it is critical to understand how they all interact.

What do you miss most about the BBE department?

I missed the great relationships with faculty and sta� . So, I have spent some time over the past few years redeveloping those by getting involved in senior capstone design projects and helping to do curriculum planning through the Advisory Council. I have also co-taught the Ecological Engineering Design course. I miss interacting with students too, even though I have one of my own children at UMN now. I volunteer at BBE, and volunteer as a mentor for the Engineers Without Borders student chapter.

ALUMNI PROFILE WALTER ESHENAUR

What would you share with a prospective student who may be inter-ested in pursuing a degree from BBE?

Stewardship of resources is critical to ensuring a future for our children. By becoming � uent in concepts such as plant-soil-water relationships and using habitat to remove pollutants, students will have a much better understanding of how natural ecological elements play a part in mitigating anthropogenic impacts.

The Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineer-ing is excited to share with you its new website. The URL is the same, www.bbe.umn.edu. The information has been redesigned to be more user-friendly. The new site is aes-thetically pleasing, and interactive. Also, we are now using a responsive design, which means that you will see es-sentially the same design optimized for your smart phone, tablet and desktop. Our alumni, prospective students, cur-rent students and stakeholders should fi nd the new design easier to scan.

“It was time to upgrade our content management software, so we took this opportunity to reshape our message to prospective students, one of our key audiences,” says Tracy Fallon, BBE’s Student Programs Coordinator. “Our depart-ment is diverse and full of wonderful success stories, all of which need to be shared.”

Please, take a tour of the new site. Feedback can be pro-vided by going to Contact Us and completing the form at the bottom of that page.

BBE HAS NEW WEBSITE BBE.UMN.EDU

10

Doctoral Student and Sustainability Enthusiast Where are your from originally, and what is your educational background?

I am from Forest Lake, MN and I am currently seeking my PhD in Industrial Ecology. I completed all my degrees at UMN. My B.S. is in Corporate Environmental Management, and my M.S. is in Industrial Ecology and

Environmental Management.

What are your research interests?

My research interests are focused around how to better use environmen-tal impact information from life cycle assessment in conjunction with economic information to better inform businesses’ decisions towards reaching their sustainability targets. My research relates to operations management, either with regard to procurement, supply chain sourcing, or production. We have just recently developed an online purchasing tool that tells businesses where to prioritize their sustainability e� orts, and compares di� erent product environmental claims for their actual e� ec-tiveness in reducing � rms’ greenhouse gas and water use impacts.

Why are you interested in this research; what lead you to do this research?

I recognized early on that businesses have the greatest amount of resources and � exibility to begin addressing the serious environmental problems we are and will be facing. Working in the � eld of sustainability, where businesses work towards not just pro� t, but also towards having a socially just and a healthy environment available makes me feel like I am and can make a positive di� erence in this world.

If you were given a million dollars, how would you use it to help your research?

I would use much of it to hire several other graduate researchers--more human resources would allow me to ask and answer more questions, and would signi� cantly further our impact in the � eld of sustainability. I would also use part of the million to develop quality decision-support tools, which would allow our research to be more directly applicable for businesses to use.

What is the most challenging part of your research?

Finding the time to do it all! It is sometimes di� cult to balance the demands of each when timelines overlap.

What are your future goals upon graduation from UMN?

Upon graduation in Spring 2016, I hope to work either as a consultant or within a sustainability department in a big business. In whatever position I hold, I hope to continue researching and answering big questions. I really enjoy research.

GRADUATE STUDENT SPOTLIGHT RYLIE PELTON

Dear Colleagues, Alums, Friends and Stakeholders,

Greetings! On behalf of the faculty, sta� and students of the Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, I would like to wish you, your family and friends the very best for the holidays and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

We are � nishing up another great year. One of the big things continues to be our increasing

student enrollment with highly quali� ed students. It is indeed fun and exciting to have more students in our classes and in our department. We continue to address our increasing teaching and student advising needs including the need for larger classrooms, and lab sections etc. Our capstone engineering design course is expected to have forty students enrolled. � is is all new territory for us, and we are working hard in addressing the needs.

Over the past two-plus years, our faculty, together with other faculty from across the campus, have been working hard to develop a new and more comprehensive undergraduate program that is focused around sustainable systems (including environmental, products, buildings and energy systems) management. We very much appreciate all of your feedback, participation and support in the development of this program. � is is still in the approval process. We are hoping to have a successful approval of this proposal in 2015.

As shared at the fall Advisory Council meeting, with increasing student enrollment our scholarship distributions have also grown. � anks to

all of your generous support, we are slated to give around $152,000 in scholarships to over 70 highly deserving undergraduate students this academic year. � is also means there is a greater need for scholarship support. Please do consider supporting our students.

As you see in this issue of the newsletter, we are pleased to have three new faculty join us this fall – Rob Gardner and Josh Stamper, and Ce Yang – all of them with joint appointments with other CFANS units. Please read more about their background and interests, and try to meet them when you visit campus next.

On the facilities front, we are continuing to make small improvements to help with our needs. We are positioned to be part of the CFANS six year capital requests for HEAPR (Higher Education Asset Preservation and Restoration) funding from the state, addressing some of the very basic building safety, code and comfort related issues. � is will still not address the growing need for modern teaching and laboratory facilities.

A special thank you to Erin Omberg, who joined BBE just two months ago, for writing, editing and putting together this issue of BioBrief.

Again, best wishes for the holidays and a Happy New Year! I hope to see you in the New Year on campus. Please, feel free to give me a call or send me an email.

Sincerely,

Shri Ramaswamy, Professor and Department Head

NOTE FROM THE DEPARTMENT HEAD

BBE HAS NEW WEBSITE BBE.UMN.EDU

11

BBE South BioAgEng Building1390 Eckles Avenue

BBE North Kaufert Lab2004 Folwell Avenue

St. Paul, MN 55108

CONNECT WITH US

GIVE A GIFTIn order to keep tuition at a level that enables the department to serve the broadest possible range of students, BBE relies on the generous support of alumni, friends, and industry partners. If you are interested in donating, visit our website and click on the Give to BBE tab.

www.bbe.umn.edu/giving

CONTACT US If you have an article idea, would like to suggest an interview, or wish to comment on something you have read in BioBrief, please contact us at the phone or email below.

Phone: 612-625-5200Email: bbe@umn.edu BioBrief Editor: Erin Omberg eomberg@umn.edu 612-624-1293

BIOPRODUCTS & B IOSYSTEMS ENGINEERING SUSTA INABLE USE OF RENEWABLE RESOURCES — ENHANCEMENT OF THE ENV IRONMENTBBE

BioBriEf

www.facebook.com/BBEUMN z.umn.edu/BBELinkedIn

The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.

Printed on recycled and recyclable paper with at least 10 percent postconsumer waste material.