Symposium to focus on beneficial bioenergy

The 2015 BioEnergy Symposium, scheduled for Thursday, May 14, will center on the topic of beneficial byproducts of bioenergy.

Patrick Serfass, executive director of American Biogas Council, will deliver the keynote address; he will provide insight on the “National Biogas Markets, Policies and Trends Influencing North Carolina.” The luncheon keynote will feature Mary Biddy, senior research engineer of the National Renewables Energy Laboratory, who will discuss “Maximizing Value from Biomass: Developing Pathways for the Production of Fuels and Products.”

The daylong symposium also will include technical sessions and networking opportunities. Registration for the May 14 event is online. The symposium will be from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the Barnhardt Student Activity Center Salons.

“Unlike many academic conferences, the aim of our annual BioEnergy Symposium is not to share research reports but rather to bring together individuals with expertise and interest; providing a catalyst for education and dialogue toward implementation. The mission and purpose of this annual symposium is directly tied to the University’s mission as an urban research institution and helps to support its efforts to make UNC Charlotte a part of the discussions regarding alternative energy and sustainability,” said Regina Guyer from the Energy Production and Infrastructure Center and the Energy and Environmental Assistance Office.

The Infrastructure, Design, Environment and Sustainability (IDEAS) Center, part of the Lee College of Engineering, is hosting this symposium. The center is an interdisciplinary entity that serves as a locus of expertise and action for creating and maintaining a sustainable relationship between the built and natural environments.