The IBSS Partnership is dedicated to creating cross-cutting education, extension and outreach (E20) activities. The E2O cross-cutting efforts will be directed at reaching stakeholder groups with information in a format that is useful for their understanding and decision making. The range of options and the rapid pace of progress for producing biomass and converting it to biofuels can be overwhelming to 'experts' in the field as well as the general public. The IBSS Partnership plans to meet this challenge head on with E20 activities that synthesize data, develop human capital, train the next generation of biomass production and conversion professionals, conduct face-to-face and web-based extension activities, and provide measurable, documentable results.
The IBSS E2O activities are expected to provide accurate and regionally specific information on the entire biomass-to-biofuels production process. IBSS's goal is to generate new educational content and structure that can be used to inform students, policy makers and other stakeholders of positive bioenergy developments. Ultimately, public support will be gained, and a capable, effective and safe biomass-to-biofuels workforce will be created.
The following diagram highlights some of the stakeholder groups (outer ring of circles) whose needs will be addressed by the programs from data and demonstrations (inner circle) developed under the E20 effort.
The IBSS E2O activities are expected to provide accurate and regionally specific information on the entire biomass-to-biofuels production process. IBSS's goal is to generate new educational content and structure that can be used to inform students, policy makers and other stakeholders of positive bioenergy developments. Ultimately, public support will be gained, and a capable, effective and safe biomass-to-biofuels workforce will be created.
- Searchable Biomass Science Information Database - This searchable database includes two major components 1) new information and content generated through the IBSS Partnership, and 2) critically reviewed content obtained from extensive literature reviews. This information serves as the basis for the E20 efforts, and provides a web-based publicly accessible source of new information and knowledge. This database is an expansion of the University of Tennessee's BioWeb, produced in collaboration with the Sun Grant Initiative.
- Certified Biomass Production Advisors and Biomass Procurement Professionals – These projects are designed to train individuals to work with foresters, farmers, and landowners to produce biomass feedstock in an environmental and socially accountable way, or to work in a biorefinery production environment. This work leverages the 100+ sights already planted and maintained by the IBSS Partnership. Certifications require the successful demonstration of learning and skills through a formal process.
- SouthEast Energy Development (SEED) Fellowship - SEED Fellows, from under-represented communities, will be assigned real-world problems that include either research or field deployment challenges in feedstock production, feedstock logistics, conversion or markets and distribution of biofuels. SEED sites will include field locations and industrial partners, as well as Universities.
- Educational Programs - Structured programs for K-12 (JASON, EnvironMentors), Associates Degrees, BS and Graduate Degrees (BioSUCCEED) and other stakeholders (eXtension/CoP) will expand on the current efforts to develop new curriculum, teaching, and training work associated with biomass-to-biofuels production.
The following diagram highlights some of the stakeholder groups (outer ring of circles) whose needs will be addressed by the programs from data and demonstrations (inner circle) developed under the E20 effort.
