Developing Bio FUels?

Question

If i wanted to become involved in the development and research of biofuels, what college major would be most appropriate?

Answer 1

Mostly chemical engineering, but also biochemistry and organic chemistry. I think the area of biofuels likely to be of greatest value to society in the long term is the conversion into useful fuels of what are currently waste organic products, like cellulose from corn stalks. Ethanol from corn and other food products is a short term expedient, a way to get started and gain experience. If you could find a process (bacterial, enzyme, chemical, or whatever) to get practical value from what otherwise is a waste product, it's a winner on all counts. Keep reading on the subject, and keep an open mind, because you don't know in advance where the breakthrough might come. You might even be the one to make the breakthrough. Good luck!

Answer 2

Chemical Engineering.

Having said that, I would like to add that Bio fuels, or any other alternative energy source, will not cure the looming energy crisis unless the central paradigm shifts to emphasize efficiency and conservation.

The currently small bio-fuel industry is already having an upward effect on food prices. It will do nothing to solve environmental problems of deforestation and global warming if we create incentives to turn the Amazon basin in to a huge sugarcane plantation to feed Navigators and Escalades.

Answer 3

a chem major with a bio minor, or a chemical engineering degree, would probably be good avenues.

I'm not sure what your desire is, but if you want to help the environment, you should look into environmental sciences, climatology, etc. Biofuels don't look to be a long-term solution to environmental problems, although they could help alleviate our dependence on foreign oil.