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An Overview of GLBRC John M. Greenler, Ph.D. University of Wisconsin-Madison Thursday, October 14, 2010
The Mission of GLBRC “The Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center’s mission is grand, but simply stated: To perform the basic research that generates technology to convert cellulosic biomass to ethanol and other advanced biofuels.” Great Lakes Bioenergy Roadmap, 2008
www.glbrc.org
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Our Design: Great Lakes Bioenergy Partners
! DOE Office of Science Joint Genome Institute, etc.
! Wisconsin & Michigan Facilities, Faculty & Staff
www.glbrc.org
! Technology Transfer Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), others
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Our Design: Who We Are ~400 scientists, staff & students across sites (August, 2010)
! 70 Faculty (17%) ! 29 Senior scientists (7%) ! 66 Post-doctoral scientist ! ! ! !
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(16%) 52 Ph.D. Students (13%) 55 Technicians (14%) 85 Undergraduates (23%) 42 Support staff in Operations, IIT, E&O (10%) ~ 60 Research Projects
www.glbrc.org
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Our Research Roadmap
Four discovery science programs provide knowledge to sustainably convert cellulosic biomass into liquid transportation fuels www.glbrc.org Â
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Our Research Roadmap
Genome-based Enabling Technologies (ET) & Informatics/Information Technology (IIT) supports all discovery science programs & operations www.glbrc.org Â
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Today’s Biofuel Ethanol Technology Conversion of sugar cane (glucose) or corn starch (glucose polymer) to ethanol
Corn (grain)
Starch Sugar Cane
Heat and/or enzymes
Glucose
Glucose Fermenta(on (microbes)
Ethanol
Fermenta(on (microbes)
Ethanol
What is Cellulose?
Conversion of Cellulosic Plant Biomass to Fuels Tomorrow’s technology (GLBRC) Plant biomass
Lignocellulosic material
Today’s technology
?
Pretreat (grind, heat, chemicals, pressure)
“Loosened” cell wall material (cellulose hemicellulose, lignin)
Corn (kernels)
Starch Heat and/or enzymes
Sugar Cane
Glucose Fermentation (microbes)
Ethanol
Glucose Fermentation (microbes)
Ethanol
? Enzymes (cellulases, etc) or microbes
Mixed sugars, etc. (glucose, arabinose, xylose, phenolics, etc.)
? Fermentation (microbes) or catalysts
Ethanol (next generaAon fuel)
Biofuel Crops and Sustainability
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An Overview of GLBRC John M. Greenler, Ph.D. University of Wisconsin-Madison Thursday, October 14, 2010
Our Design: Education & Outreach ! Undergraduate level: summer research programs in collaboration Institute for Cross-College Biology Education (ICBE) Genetically Engineered Machine (IGEM) Program Kellogg Biological Station ! K-12 teachers Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) Two-week summer Bioenergy institutes Environmental Literacy Program ! Providing training for future leaders of the biofuels sector ! Inform stakeholders on scientific issues associated with biofuels
www.glbrc.org
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Questions?
www.glbrc.org
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How Cellulosic Biofuels Could Be Made Success depends on “which, where and how cellulosic biofuels are produced.” (Robertson et al. Science 2008)
Number of unknowns for each step dictates broad set of activities www.glbrc.org
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Our Design: Benefits of Our Diversity
! Integrates scientists & staff across sites ! Leverages diverse approaches to achieve a shared strategic vision Taps investigator creativity from academic, lab & private sector Partners embrace mission, strategy & collaborative philosophy Programs span biological, physical & computational sciences Wet, dry & field laboratories High-throughput core facilities ! Internal collaborations empower Center-wide teamwork & creativity www.glbrc.org
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