Youth science day makes millions of young scientists

University of Wisconsin-Madison
Oct. 6, 2009

On Wednesday, Oct. 7, millions of young people across the United States will become scientists for the day as they explore the world of biofuels. On the second annual 4-H National Youth Science Day, youth will participate in "Biofuel Blast," an investigation of how organic plant materials can be converted to biofuels to supply alternative forms of energy.

Biofuel Blast, known as the National Science Experiment, was created by Cathy Vrentas of the University of Wisconsin-Extension and the University of Wisconsin-Madison Biotechnology Center. The experimenters will produce the biofuel ethanol from corn sugars and encourage young researchers to explore how other plants and feedstocks — such as switchgrass, sorghum and algae — could be used to produce biofuels. Youth are encouraged to share their results via the Web.

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Discovery to launch 60-part, five-year “Curiosity” program-

Biofuels Digest.com
Jim Lane September 11, 2009

Addressing the future of artificial intelligence, nanotechnology and genomics among others

In Maryland. the Discovery Channel announced the launch of “Curiosity,” a five-year, 60-part television series that will address underlying mysteries in fields such as space, biology, geology, medicine, physics, technology, nature, archaeology, history and the human mind. The five-year, multi-million dollar project will address 12 questions over 12 one-hour episodes each year, and will begin airing on the Discovery Channel beginning in January 2011.

The project will feature lifelong learning programming for adults, including multiple hours of “deep-dive” online content to accompany each episode and related learning retreats with experts featured in the series.

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New energy sciences minor offered for fall semester

DailyNebraskan.com
Evan Cotten
Issue date: 4/9/08 Section: News

The United States' energy crisis has made the energy industry a powerful force for the nation's well-being.

That's part of the reason the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has announced a new minor in energy sciences. The new field will allow students to study the capture, production, storage and utilization of energy, along with choices societies make related to economics and the environment.

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