What's New at IfS
The Institute for Sustainability (IfS), a technological community within AIChE, has announced that Deborah L. Grubbe has been appointed its 2010 chair. Commenting on her appointment, Grubbe said that advancing the use of sustainability concepts, tools and measurements is critical to meeting both business s interests and society s needs. See the press release here. Interested in Developing Energy Education Modules for The Undergraduate Chemical Engineering Curriculum? Apply for an AIChE Grand Energy Challenges Energy Education Module Grant. Submit your application by February 15, 2010 The AIChE's Sustainable Engineering Forum and Energy Initiative announce a competition to promote energy education in K-12 schools. The project shall be completed in the school no later than May 1, 2010. The program will offer awards of $2,500 to each of two student chapters.The Sustainable Engineering Forum launches a newsletter for members and friends of the Sustainable Engineering Forum. For the latest on programming, SEF updates, and virtual meetings, see the SEF newsletter.The Center for Sustainable Technology Practices has developed a number of industry focused publicationsCenter for Sustainable Technology Practices launches their quaterly newsletter the CSTP Steward which provides highlights of industry putting sustainability into practice. Ifs has published the Sustainability Index Factors in Detail. Company representatives interested in learning how the AIChE Sustainability Index can benefit their company should contact ifs@aiche.org for additional information.IfS Spotlight
The workshop will take place at the Palomar Hotel Washington, DC in Washinton, DC on February 1-2, 2010.
The Carbon Measurement workshop is to identify gaps, barriers, educational requirements, etc. that would enable an organization to report accurate, consistent, verifiable, timely, and transparent green house gas values. The workshop will take place at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch in Scottsdale, Arizona on December 7-8, 2009. Hosted by the United Engineering Foundation Founders Society.
AIChE WISE Interns: Jennifer Christensen from Texas A&M, Sarah Widder from University of Washington, and Steven Timothy from Cornell University completed policy studies on energy. Christensen conducted research on “Biofuels Policy & Regulatory Issues: Applying Green House Gas Emissions-Lifecycle Analysis”; Widder on “Policy Options for Nuclear Waste Management: A Sustainable Solution for Expanded Nuclear Energy;” and Timothy on “Solar Electricity: Residential Photovoltaic Implementation via National Feed in Tariff.” The AIChE interns are part of the 2009 Washington Internship for Students of Engineering.
This project will introduce the attendee to the concepts of Total Cost Assessment, methods for deriving costs and uncertainties, and methods for assessing impact. Participation in the users group will benefit anyone involved in risk assessment, triple bottom-line sustainability, and developing a business case for sustainable practices and processes. The next meeting will be on October 7, 2009 at 9:00AM EST.
This effort is bringing together experts from industry, academia, government and NGO’s with expertise in sustainable biofuels with two primary goals: Develop and adopt a common set of technically sound, economically viable biofuels metrics for that can be used by the federal interagency task force. Identify enabling farming developments and/or processing technologies that would expand the supply, improve the economics, or improve the sustainability of biofuels. The next meeting will be on Wednesday, October 7, 2009 at 3:00PM EST.
Alternative transportation fuels from coal and biomass have the potential to lower greenhouse emissions and petroleum fuel use. The book ‘Liquid Transportation Fuels from Coal and Biomass’ provides a roadmap to energy independence for policy makers, investors, leaders in industry, transportation sector, and others with a concern for the environment, economy, and energy security.
AIChE and ACS releases a policy statement on Framework for a 21st Century United States Energy Strategy which highlights and explains the need for objective decision-making in a complex energy landscape.
The Sustainable Engineering Forum is accepting applications for three awards to acknowledge research and outstanding contributions relative to engineering and sustainability. September 1 is the deadline for 2009 Student Award and for the Outstanding Researcher Award. Applications for the Outstanding Industrial Practice Award is on September 15, 2009.