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St. Olaf senior wins two awards for biofuel research

By Sarah Meyer '08
May 6, 2008

St. Olaf senior Eric Smith's research in turning prairie biomass into fuel earned him two first-place awards at the 75th Annual Minnesota Academy of Science Meeting and the 20th Annual Winchell Undergraduate Symposium.

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Smith
Smith gave an oral presentation at the event titled "Biomass Production and Soil Nutrient Analysis in Restored Prairies." The presentation was based on research he performed last summer and his continuing research this semester.

Smith really became interested in biofuels when he heard former St. Olaf Professor of Biology Jason Hill, who now teaches at the University of Minnesota, speak about the economic and environmental costs of using biofuels from corn and soybeans. "At first I had hoped that ethanol from corn and biodiesel from soybeans would be the answer, but it was clear after seeing the figures in Professor Hill's talk that it was not," Smith says.

Smith began to look into cellulosic ethanol from prairie biomass. His research focused on the prairies in the St. Olaf Natural Lands, which he hoped to use to determine how much variation there is in aboveground biomass production. Using the variation in productivity, he was able to estimate a minimum and maximum amount of land that would be needed to fuel a biofuel gasification plant. His results suggest that the amount of land needed is disproportionately large and that land use will be a determining factor in the feasibility of biofuel production. Smith says research is needed to ensure that biofuel production and use is achieving a variety of goals, most notably reductions in carbon emissions and environmental benefits.

"I have been working on this project for a year now and putting it all together was really a way to bring my experience at St. Olaf full circle," Smith says. "It was a great feeling to present a project that so much work has gone into and that I care about so much."

Smith, a biology and environmental studies major who is also a TriBeta Biology honor society member, is from Bainbridge Island, Wash. In addition to receiving awards for his biofuel research, Smith recently had the unique opportunity to present the results of water-quality research he has done to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. After graduation he plans to return to his hometown and eventually apply to a graduate school program in environmental studies.

The Winchell Award is given to the best oral presentation in the Ecology and Environmental Science Session. The TriBeta Award is given for the best oral presentation in the combined Ecology and Environmental Science Organismic and Physiological Science sessions.

Contact Kari VanDerVeen at 507-786-3970 or vanderve@stolaf.edu.