Progress 08/15/08 to 08/14/12
Outputs
(N/A)
Impacts
The program has been able to heighten the knowledge and importance of biofuel science, technology and policy in South America and India among FIU students, faculty, area farmers and the US business community. The biofuel plots and the biofuel research lab that the students and faculty at FIU started as a result of this project have become permanent teaching and research facilities of the FIU Agroecology Program. These facilities are permanently incorporated into the Agroecology, and Environmental Sciences courses. One of the students who visited India twice under the project is now graduating with a Masters degree in Environmental Studies with a focus on biodiesel technology and is now ready for a mission critical job in USDA or private biodiesel industry. This grant also lead to the acquisition of another USDA NIFA Higher Education grant for training Hispanic students in biofuel sciences. Those who attended our classes, seminars and symposium have become more interested in the subject. The program has earned the FIU Agroecology Program a reputation that the university is a place of learning international agricultural issues. A group of 25 students from the National Agricultural University of Honduras have visited our university to gain knowledge about US agriculture, and interacted with our students.
Publications
- Alvarez-Ventura, S. 2011. Water Sustainability in Biofuel Production--A Lesson from India. Agroecology Symposium, Florida International University, Miami, March 2011.
- Alvarez-Ventura, S., Bhat, M. and Jayachandran, K. 2011. Engaging Urban K-12 Agriculture-Science Education by Training the Trainers. Presented at the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Annual Conference, Edmonton, Canada, June 2011.
- Bhat, M. and Jayachandran, K. 2010. Agriculture Science Education in Minority-Serving, Urban Universities: Service Learning, Collaboration, and Community Engagement. Presented at the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Annual Conference, State College, Pennsylvania.
- Bhat, M. and Stepien, D. 2010. Biofuel development in India--policies for grass-root level institutions and infrastructure. Energy Forum Workshop, Florida International University, March 2010.
- Bhat, M. 2011. Biofuel Technology, Institution, and Economics--Experiences of Developing Countries. Conference on Small and Medium Size Business Enterprises for a Green Energy Future, FIU Energy Security Forum, Miami, March 2011.
- Bhat, M. and Jungman, A. 2011. Internalization of biofuel research, curriculum, and business promotion. Presented at the National Project Directors Meeting, US Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Washington, DC. June 2011.
- Bhat, M., Alvarez-Ventura, S. Jungman, A., Velez, T., Zangari, A., Jayachandran K., and Gowda, B. 2012. Sustainable Bioenergy--Moving Beyond the Food-Fuel Controversy. Presentation at the International Society of Ecological Economics, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 2012.
- Garcia, C. 2011. A look at rural farmers-labourers relationship with the biofuel program in India. Agroecology Symposium, Florida International University, Miami, March 2011.
- Gowda, B. and Prasanna, S. 2011. A decentralized system for biodiesel feedstock production in Karnataka, India. Presented at the Agroecology Symposium, Florida International University, Miami, March 2011.
- Jayachandran, K. 2010. Screening algal strains from the Evergaldes for biofuel production. Third Algae World Summit San Diego, California, May 2011.
- Jayachandran, K. 2010. Current Status of Algae Use for Biofuel Production. Latin American and Caribbean Biofuel Conference, Santiago, Chile, August 2010.
- Johnson, A. 2010. Bio-ethanol in Brazil: Lessons for the US. Annual Agroecology Symposium, Florida International University, Miami.
- Jungman, A. 2011. A study of the chemical process and economics of biodiesel production for two leading educational institutions in India. Agroecology Symposium, Florida International University, Miami, March 2011.
- Jungman, A., Bhat, M. and Jayachandran, K. 2011. Internalization of Agricultural Curriculum at Florida International University: Evaluation of Student Experiential Learning Outcome. Presented at the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Annual Conference, Edmonton, Canada, June 2011.
- Jungman, A., Bhat, M., Jayachandran, K. and Gowda, B. 2012. The Use of Simarouba glauca Seed Oil as a Feedstock for the Production of Biodiesel Using a Small Scale Model Developed in India. Poster Presented at the United Soybean Board Biobased Products Stakeholders Workshop, Dearborn, Michigan, August 2012.
- Jungman, A. 2012. Examining the Use of Simarouba glauca Seed Oil as a Feedstock for the Production of Biodiesel Using a Small Scale Model Developed in India. Masters Thesis, Earth and Environment Department, Florida International University.
- Kurlander, D. 2011. Forestland Assessment: Biofuel Potential in Karnataka, India. Agroecology Symposium, Florida International University, Miami, March 2011.
- Maniloff, M. 2011. Improving Transportation In India. Agroecology Symposium, Florida International University, Miami, March 2011.
- Jungman, A., 2012. The Use of Simarouba glauca Seed Oil as a Feedstock for the Production of Biodiesel Using a Small Scale Model Developed in India. Presented at the Agroecology Symposium, Florida International University, Miami, March 2012.
- Narender, P. 2010. Biofuel from algae: potential for sustainable biofuel production. Annual Agroecology Symposium, Florida International University, Miami.
- Saldana, V. 2011. Significance of Biodiversity among Biofuel Producing Plants. Agroecology Symposium, Florida International University, Miami, March 2011.
- Shetty, K. 2012. Advances in biodiesel from algae. Presented at the Agroecology Symposium, Florida International University, Miami, March 2012.
- Stepien, D. 2009. Biodiesel in the State of Karnataka, India-Policy Recommendations for a growing transportation system. Masters Research Project, Earth and Environment Department, Florida International University, Miami.
- Stepien, D. 2010. Bio-diesel development program in India. Annual Agroecology Symposium, Florida International University, Miami.
- Tome, B. 2011. Current and Future Consumption of Biofuels in Karnataka, India. Agroecology Symposium, Florida International University, Miami, March 2011.
- Velez, T. 2011. The Biofuels Push-Land Management Strategies for Sustainable Community Development. Agroecology Symposium, Florida International University, Miami, March 2011.
- Velez, T., Bhat, M. and Jayachandran, K. 2011. The Role of Co-curricular Education in Enhancing Class Room Agricultural Science Program in an Urban University. Presented at the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Annual Conference, Edmonton, Canada, June 2011.
- Zangari, A. 2011. Applying Sustainable Biofuel Production to Rural Poverty Mitigation. Agroecology Symposium, Florida International University, Miami, March 2011.
|
Progress 08/15/10 to 08/14/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: We had funded a nine students to conduct short-term research on biofuels in India during the previous reporting period. They had spent two weeks in Karnataka, India, visiting the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, its biofuel park in Hassan, and the various rural sites where biodiesel oilseed crops were being promoted. During the reporting period, students completed the data analysis and made several presentations throughout the year (see publication list below). Their project topics covered a range of issues related to biodiesel production in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu in India, for example, oil seed crop nursery and production, oil collection network and extraction technology, trans-esterification, rural employment, and government policies. They covered five oilseed crops, namely, simarouba (paradise tree), pongamia, jatropha, neem and mahua. We also hosted two high-level delegations from India during the year--Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) (including Dr. Bhoopathy, Vice Chancellor), and University of Agricultural Sciences, Karnataka. We also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with TNAU. Co-PD George Philippidis conducted a study assessing the market potential of biofuels in the Domincan Republic and Ecuador and made plans for future visits to these countries to hold meetings with local businesses and university representatives for first-hand assessments and to incorporate them into a planned course on sustainable bioenegy. Nine students who conducted the biofuel study in India made a number of presentations on their work at FIU Agroecology Symposium, FIU Energy Security Forum Mini-Conference (which mostly consisted of energy business and industry representatives), and the National Agricultural College and Teachers Association Conference. Further, we also had hosted Dr. Balakrishna Gowda of University of Agricultural Sciences, Bnagalore, India, to FIU, who spent three weeks in March 2011 with our faculty and students and helped us develop further research collaboration on biofuel research. One of the students, Adrew Jungman, who visited India last year joined our program as a graduate student and started establishing a biofuel plant demonstration plot on campus. This facility is now a permanent educational tool for providing students with international biofuel knowledge and awareness. PARTICIPANTS: Mahadev Bhat (PD) -- overall project administration and student mentoring Krish Jayachandran (co-PD) -- student mentoring George Philipiddis (co-PD) -- international biofuel research, dissemination to biofuel industry representatives Eight undergraduate students and one graduate student Balakrishna Gowda - biofuel research scientist -- University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India Tamil Nadu Agricultural University TARGET AUDIENCES: Undergraduate and graduate students and faculty at Florida International University Private biofuel businesses and industry K-12 students PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
The program has been able to heighten the knowledge and importance of biofuel issues in South America and India among FIU students, faculty and the area farmers. Students and faculty at FIU are soon beginning to plant some of the oil seed plants, which have been extensively researched in India, on the FIU campus and local area farms. Those who attended our classes, seminars and symposium have become more interested in the subject. The program has earned the FIU Agroecology Program reputation that the university is a place of learning international agricultural issues. A group of 25 students from an agricultural science university in Honduras have visited our university to gain knowledge about US agriculture, and interacted with our students.
Publications
- Braian Tome. Current and Future Consumption of Biofuels in Karnataka, India. Agroecology Symposium, Florida International University, Miami, March 2011.
- Cristina Garcia. A look at rural farmers-labourers relationship with the biofuel program in India. Agroecology Symposium, Florida International University, Miami, March 2011.
- Michael Maniloff. Improving Transportation In India. Agroecology Symposium, Florida International University, Miami, March 2011.
- Allie Zangari. Applying Sustainable Biofuel Production to Rural Poverty Mitigation. Agroecology Symposium, Florida International University, Miami, March 2011.
- Drake Kurlander. Forestland Assessment: Biofuel Potential in Karnataka, India. Agroecology Symposium, Florida International University, Miami, March 2011.
- Victoria Saldana. Significance of Biodiversity among Biofuel Producing Plants. Agroecology Symposium, Florida International University, Miami, March 2011.
- Andrew Jungman. A study of the chemical process and economics of biodiesel production for two leading educational institutions in India. Agroecology Symposium, Florida International University, Miami, March 2011.
- Stephany Alvarez-Ventura. Water Sustainability in Biofuel Production--A Lesson from India. Agroecology Symposium, Florida International University, Miami, March 2011.
- Thelma Velez. The Biofuels Push--Land Management Strategies for Sust Community Development. Agroecology Symposium, Florida International University, Miami, March 2011.
- Mahadev Bhat. Biofuel Technology, Institution, and Economics--Experiences of Developing Countries. Conference on Small and Medium Size Business Enterprises for a Green Energy Future, FIU Energy Security Forum, Miami, March 2011.
- A. Jungman, M. Bhat, and K. Jayachandran. Internalization of Agricultural Curriculum at Florida International University: Evaluation of Student Experiential Learning Outcome. Presented at the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Annual Conference, Edmonton, Canada, June 2011.
- M. Bhat. And A. Jungman. Internalization of biofuel research, curriculum, and business promotion. Presented at the National Project Directors Meeting, US Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Washington, DC. June 2011.
|
Progress 01/01/10 to 06/30/10
Outputs
During the reporting period (August 15, 2009 to August 14, 2010), two students who were awarded the international scholarships previous year completed their analysis and made presentations at the annual Agroecology Symposium held in February 2010 at Florida International University (FIU). More than 125 students, faculty members, and agency people attended the symposium. One of these students, who had done research at the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Bangalore, India and its Biofuel Park (a research station) at Hassan, India, also successfully completed her masters research project on the topic. The project Director, Mahadev Bhat, made a presentation at the FIU Energy Forum workshop on the institutional and policy aspects of grass-root level biofuel development in Karnataka, India. In the Spring and Summer of 2010, Project Directors, Mahadev Bhat and Krish Jayachandran, lead a group of nine students to South Indian states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Students completed a 3-credit hour Special Topics field course on Sustainable Biofuel Production in India as part of this field trip. They spent two weeks in Karnataka visiting the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, its biofuel park in Hassan, and the various rural sites where biodiesel oilseed crops were being promoted. Students met with scientists, farmers, and biofuel industry people to study a range of issues related to biodiesel production in Karnataka--oil seed crop nursery and production, oil collection network and extraction technology, trans-esterification, rural employment, and government policies. They studied extensively five oilseed crops, namely, simarouba (paradise tree), pongamia, jatropha, neem and mahua. Students also met with the Chairman and members of the Karnataka Biofuel Development Taskforce to learn the state and national policies. While in Karnataka, the Project Director, Bhat along with these students, entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Vice Chancellor of UAS, Bangalore. This MOU is expected to promote future collaboration between UAS, Bangalore and FIU. Students along with Co-Project Director Krish Jayachandran then visited the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore for four days and studied extensively agronomic, technological and policy aspects of jatropha-biodiesel production. Dr Jayachandran discussed the possibility of signing an MOU between TNAU, Coimbatore and FIU. He later presented a paper on biofuel from algae at an international conference held in Chile in August 2010. Co-PD George Philippidis conducted a study assessing the market potential of biofuels in the Dominican Republic and Ecuador and made plans for future visits to these countries to hold meetings with local businesses and university representatives for first-hand assessments and to incorporate them into a planned course on sustainable bioenegy. PRODUCTS: Two students completed the fieldwork on international biofuel issues. Nine students visited India and completed a Special Topics course in sustainable biofuel production. We also taught one agricultural science course with topics covering international bioenergy problems. An Agroecology symposium covering the biofuel topic was organized. Six presentations were made by the project directors and students, in the US and in Chile. We also executed a Memorandum of Understanding between our university and the UAS, Bangalore, India, which is expected to promote future research collaboration and student and scholar exchange between the two universities. OUTCOMES: More than 175 university students and faculty members benefited from the international-bioenergy-enriched courses, internships, symposium, and travel opportunities made possible by the grant. The international aspect of the Agroecology Program at FIU has been attracting more students, faculty and outside agencies and institutions. Two of the students who visited India last summer are interested in joining our program for masters and go back to India for further biofuel study. Another student is planning on establishing oilseed plants, which he studied extensively in India, on the FIU campus and at a local farm. This grant program was also instrumental in our recent success in seeking another grant from the USDA NIFA Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) Higher Education grant for training students in biofuel technology for next four years. Some of the students trained through the current ISE grant will be helping us with training other FIU and area high school students for the HSI grant. The MOU between FIU and UAS, Bangalore will allow us to exchange students and scholars between the two universities. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: The program was publicized via the regular university email system, class room presentations and the Agroecology Symposium. We also publicize the International biofuel study activities held in India and Brazil on the project website agroecology.fiu.edu. Students and faculty made about six conference and symposium presentations and published one masters research project. FUTURE INITIATIVES: Nine students and two faculty members who visited India are analyzing the data and information gathered during the visit. Students will be presenting their posters and papers at the annual Agroecology Symposium and Energy Forum conference to be held in Miami later this year. Dr Balakrishna Gowda, Director of the Biofuel Park, UAS Bangalore will be visiting FIU later this year for two weeks to exchange biofuel research ideas with FIU students, faculty and the area farmers and biofuel industry representatives. Another MOU between FIU and Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore is being planned. We are also planning for the external evaluation of the program in February or March of 2011.
Impacts
The program has been able to heighten the knowledge and importance of biofuel issues in South America and India among FIU students, faculty and the area farmers. Students and faculty at FIU are soon beginning to plant some of the oil seed plants, which have been extensively researched in India, on the FIU campus and local area farms. Those who attended our classes, seminars and symposium have become more interested in the subject. The program has earned the FIU Agroecology Program reputation that the university is a place of learning international agricultural issues. A group of 25 students from an agricultural science university in Honduras will be visiting our program to study various programs that we offer.
Publications
- Jayachandran, K. 2010. Current Status of Algae Use for Biofuel Production. Latin American and Caribbean Biofuel Conference, Santiago, Chile, August 2010.
- Bhat, M. and Jayachandran, K. 2010. Agriculture Science Education in Minority-Serving, Urban Universities: Service Learning, Collaboration, and Community Engagement. Presented at the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Annual Conference, Pennsylvania.
- Bhat, M. and Stepien, D. 2010. Biofuel development in India-policies for grass-root level institutions and infrastructure. Energy Forum Workshop, Florida International University, March 2010.
- Stepien, D. 2009. Biodiesel in the State of Karnataka, India-Policy Recommendations for a growing transportation system. Masters Research Project, Earth and Environment Department, Florida International University, Miami.
- Stepien, D. 2010. Bio-diesel development program in India. Annual Agroecology Symposium, Florida International University, Miami.
- Narender, P. 2010. Biofuel from algae: potential for sustainable biofuel production. Annual Agroecology Symposium, Florida International University, Miami.
- Johnson, A. 2010. Bio-ethanol in Brazil: Lessons for the US. Annual Agroecology Symposium, Florida International University, Miami.
|
Progress 01/01/09 to 06/30/09
Outputs
During the reporting period, we awarded two international scholarships to students. After conducting preliminary research on campus and field study plans, one student visited the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India and its Biofuel Park (research station) at Hassan, India. She also met the representatives of the Karnataka biofuel development taskforce and the state transportation corporation which are involved in developing biofuel program in the India state of Karnataka. The student did an in-depth study of state and national programs to promote grass-root level biofuel seed production and collection, oil-seed conversion, and bio-diesel consumption. Another student travelled to Brazil in June 2009 to study the biofuel infrastructure, particularly ethanol, and what the United States can learn from that experience. Mahadev Bhat, the Project Director, revised his Sustainable Agriculture course to incorporate topics on international bioenergy issues and how they influence the US. He also directed a student to conduct research on bioenergy production in Haiti. Krish Jayachandran, co-Project Director, directed another student on the microbial study of bio-algae. The student is conducting a master thesis research on the topic. Both these students made presentations on their research at the annual Agroecology Symposium held at Florida International University in January 2009. Also, at the Symposium, Burton English, Professor of Agricultural Economics, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, presented a keynote speech on the US bioenergy scenario in comparison with other countries. The Symposium was attended by more than 150 students, faculty, farmers and agency representatives. We revised our websites to feature the activities of the current project. We had an external evaluator visit the campus in January 2009 to conduct the project evaluation. PRODUCTS: Two students conducted fieldwork on international biofuel issues, one each in India and Brazil. We modified and taught one agricultural science course with topics covering international bioenergy problems. An agroecology symposium covering biofuel sessions was organized. Two additional students made oral and poster presentations at this Symposium. The keynote speech of the conference covered US bioenergy scenarios in the context of changing word energy dynamic. OUTCOMES: More than 150 university and high school students and teachers benefited from the international-bioenergy-enriched courses, internships, symposium, and travel opportunities made possible by the grant. Students and faculty at the University look up to our agricultural science program when they are interested in issues related to international bioenergy issues. Because of our international experience, the FIU Agroecology Program has now been recognized by certain local and international organizations as source of expertise in bioenergy, agroecology, organic farming, natural resource management and sustainable agriculture in general. This is a remarkable achievement for the University and the Program such as ours that do not have a traditional agriculture science program. The Biofuel Development Taskforce of the Karnataka Government in India has sought our University for developing a Memorandum of Understanding for further collaborative research and exchange visitations. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: The program was publicized via the regular university email system, class room presentations and the Agroecology Symposium. FUTURE INITIATIVES: Mahadev Bhat, PD, is planning to visit India to study the Karnataka state policies on biofuel promotion in the Indian State of Karnataka. Bhat and Jayachandran are planning a visit to Haiti later in 2009 and to South American in 2009. Two students who visited India and Brazil last summer will work on finalizing their field report and making presentations to students and FIU faculty. Second round international biofuel study scholarship will be awarded to students. Jayachandran is also planning to visit the Bioenergy Center of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India, in 2010 to study the emerging biofuel technologies and issues. Students who traveled abroad this year will present their study results at the next years Agroecology Symposium and Energy Business Forum to be held at FIU.
Impacts
The program has been able to heighten the knowledge and importance of biofuel issues here in the US and abroad among FIU students, faculty and the area farmers. Those who attended our classes, seminars and symposium have become more interested in the subject. Next year, we expect more students seeking funding support from our program to travel abroad in order to study biofuel issues.
Publications
- S. Guillaume, 2009. Jatropha Plantation in Haiti. Presented at the Agroecology Symposium, Florida International University, Miami, Florida.
- P. Narendar. 2009. Biofuels - Sustainable Energy Resources. Presented at the Agroecology Symposium, Florida International University, Miami, Florida.
|
Progress 08/15/08 to 12/31/08
Outputs
During the reporting period, we conducted several information review session on international travle scholarships for students. We have received five scholarship applications from students who are interested in studying biofuel issues in India, Haiti and Brazil. We are currently working with these students to help develop their research plans, travel visas, and contacts with foreign hosts. Organized World Food Day celebrations on the Florida International University campus. Students in the programs made presentations about alternative biofuel issues. More than 50 students from varius departments attends the program. PRODUCTS: Created international travel scholarships for students to travel abroad. The selection process is underway. One student made a presentations on international biofuel issues at the World Food Day celebration. OUTCOMES: Too early to report. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: The program was publicised via the regular university email system, class room presentations and the university magazines. FUTURE INITIATIVES: The annual agroecology symposium will be organized in February 2009 at which there will be presentations and keynote addresses on bioenergy issues. Students will continue to work on their summer travel plans.
Impacts
It is too early to report.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
|
|