Conferences/Workshops

EBI sponsored events:

Third Berkeley Conference on the Bioeconomy
June 24-25, 2010
Agenda
Presentations

Algae Biofuel Assessment Project
January 15-16, 2009
Agenda

Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Biofuels
June 9-10, 2008
Agenda

Research Priorities in Microbially Enhanced Hydrocarbon Recovery (MEHR)

October 24, 2007

White Paper

EBI co-sponsored events: 

Linking Biophysical and Economic Models of Biofuel Production and Environmental Impacts

November 13-14, 2008

Gleacher Center,Chicago, IL

There is growing emphasis on biofuels as a strategy for reducing dependence on gasoline and greenhouse gas emissions. Advanced liquid biofuels made from cellulosic materials offer the dual promise of high productivity per acre of land and environmental sustainability. However, insufficient historical experience with cellulosic feedstocks makes it necessary to develop simulation models to understand how much cellulose such crops would yield under alternative growing conditions and what would be their implications for water quality, climate change and biodiversity. The workshop’s purpose is to review recent developments in biophysical models of bioenergy feedstocks and their integration with economic models to study the economic and environmental impacts of bioenergy crops. Co-sponsors include the DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Workshop web site: http://www.greatlakesbioenergy.org/glbrcebi-workshop/

Summary and presentations 

Environmental and Ecological Consequences of Deploying Second-Generation Biofuels on the Landscape

December 2008 (Date and time TBD)

Moscone Center, San Francisco, CA

This session, part of the fall meeting of the American Geophysical Union, will examine recent understanding of the effects of biofuel feedstocks on the biogeochemical cycling of carbon, nitrogen and water, and will incorporate societal and economic implications through a discussion of life-cycle analysis applied to biofuel feedstocks. Co-coordinator is EBI investigator Evan DeLucia of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. ABSTRACTS MUST BE SUBMITTED ON-LINE BY SEPTEMBER 10, 2008 (http://submissions3.agu.org/submission/entrance.asp). Especially encouraged are scientific results stemming from empirical, theoretical or synthesis studies examining the ecological or environmental consequences of converting current land uses to potential biofuel feedstocks.

Measuring and Modeling the Lifecycle GHG Impacts of Transportation Fuels

July 1-2, 2008

This workshop explored the differences among the fuel lifecycle Greenhouse Gas (GHG) estimates from leading models, including system boundaries and other judgments about land-use change. Experts from the academic and fuels analysis communities addressed both current and emerging biofuels and other options for reducing the carbon footprint of motor fuels. It was co-sponsored by the Environmental Defense Fund, EBI, and the Energy and Resources Group of UC Berkeley.

Transition to a Bioeconomy: Risk, Infrastructure and Industry Evolution

June 24-25, 2008

This was the second conference in the Transition to a Bioeconomy series.  Focused on risk and infrastructure, participants examined such issues as finances, business models, and transportation infrastructure. This conference was a collaboration of Farm Foundation, the USDA Office of Energy Policy and New Uses, USDAEconomic Research Service, and the Energy Biosciences Institute. Presentations from the workshop are posted at the following web site: http://www.farmfoundation.org/news/templates/template.aspx?articleid=365&zoneid=79. Audio reports from the presentations are also accessible there.

Pan American Congress on Plants and BioEnergy

June 22-25, 2008

This international conference in Merida, Mexico, featured plant biologists meeting with government policy makers, agronomists, microbiologists, economists and ecologists to forge a path toward Western Hemisphere bioenergy security that is sustainable and environmentally and economically sound. Attendees heard from venture capitalists and industry leaders in bioenergy about the pathways to economic success and the development of new crops and approaches that will avoid competition between food and fuel. Presenters also explored the breadth of bioenergy crops and the progress that is being made to introduce them into the agricultural landscape; the underlying biology of bioenergy plants; new ideas to enhance biomass yield and quality for the energy crops of the future; and approaches to lowering net greenhouse gas emissions. Primary sponsor: the American Society of Plant Biologists. Web site: http://www.aspb.org/meetings/bioenergy08/

Courtesy Listings from Affiliated and Biofuel-Related Groups:

Non-CO₂ Greenhouse Gas Emissions

August 26-27, 2008

Stanford University,Palo Alto

The Global Climate and Energy Project (GCEP) is organizing this workshop on the Stanford campus as part of GCEP's assessment activity to identify new areas for fundamental research leading to energy-related technologies that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions.Technical experts in a broad range of topic areas will be assembled to discuss research ideas in reducing methane and nitrous-oxide emissions from four main areas: agricultural soil management, livestock, waste, and natural gas. The objective of the workshop is to identify innovative, high-risk research opportunities that would have a significant impact on reducing non-CO₂ greenhouse gas emissions on a large scale in the next 10 to 50 years. This technical workshop is free and open to outside researchers and energy professionals, but registration is required by August 18, 2008. Workshop website: http://gcep.stanford.edu/events/workshops_nonco2.html

2008 Behavior, Energy and Climate Change Conference

November 16-19, 2008

Sacramento, CA

This conference is focused on understanding the nature of individual and organizational behavior and decision-making and using that knowledge to accelerate our transition to an energy-efficient and low-carbon economy. It will bring together a diverse group of policymakers, social scientists, program implementers, media, and energy experts to explore the practical application of social and behavioral insights to address our climate challenges. Attendees will review recent behavioral research, discuss current and emerging policy issues, share effective program/communication strategies, and encourage collaboration across government, utility, business, and research sectors. The goal is to achieve viable solutions for meeting long-term energy and greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets by improving the design, adoption, and continued effectiveness of policies, programs, technologies, and individual/organizational actions. Sponsors include the California Institute for Energy and Environment(CIEE), University of California Office of the President; the Precourt Institute for Energy Efficiency (PIEE), Stanford University; and the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE). Conference website: http://piee.stanford.edu/cgi-bin/htm/Behavior/becc_conference.php?ref=nav4 

*** 

Please see the full calendar for more biofuels related events.