04/11/2007

Media Advisory: Ohio’s Future in Renewable Energy, Bioeconomy Topics of OARDC Conference April 19 in Columbus

Writer:

Mauricio Espinoza
espinoza.15@osu.edu
(330) 202-3550

COLUMBUS, Ohio — University, government and industry experts will meet to discuss Ohio’s role in the emerging bioeconomy — renewable energy, biofuels, bio-based products and others — during the 2007 Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) Annual Research Conference, Thursday, April 19, on Ohio State University’s Columbus campus.

The conference — held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Blackwell Ballroom, 2110 Tuttle Park Place, Columbus — will feature a keynote presentation by Mark Shanahan, energy advisor to Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland and executive director of the Ohio Air Quality Development Authority.

Also speaking will be Bhima Vijayendran, vice president for technology commercialization and advanced-materials expert at Battelle Memorial Institute, as well as Ohio State researchers working on projects related to biomass conversion to energy, cellulosic ethanol, renewable polymers and industrial products, and domestic sources of rubber.

Reporters interested in attending the conference, please contact Mauricio Espinoza at (330) 202-3550 or espinoza.15@osu.edu.

The largest and most comprehensive agricultural research facility in the United States, OARDC (http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu) is the research arm of Ohio State’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. The Center brings together some 230 scientists engaged in more than 400 research projects at any given time. Through collaborations with industry and government agencies, OARDC generates more than $1 billion of annual economic impact and cost savings to Ohio and the United States.

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