Online Biorenewables Education Options Grow

Biofuels Digest is launching a new feature series: Educational Programs for Biorenewables. Our first feature focuses on biorenewables programs at Iowa State University.

As the biorenewable industry grows, so does the demand for a workforce educated in the field. Many programs for traditional students have been created to help meet this demand. Iowa State University, for instance, was among the first to offer masters and PhD. programs in biorenewable resources, in 2002.

More recently, however, interest and options in online education in biorenewables has grown, too. These programs are especially attractive to non-traditional students, such as those already working in the biorenewables industry or desiring a new career in the field.

From Wood Stoves to Renewable Electricity

In a way, John McWilliams has been working in biorenewables since he was growing up on an Iowa farm. “One of my first chores was to get corn cobs as fuel for the wood stove,” he says. Today, he’s a senior resource planning engineer for Dairyland Power Cooperative in Wisconsin, ultimately serving the electric needs of over 600,000 people. The coop now gets about 12 percent of its energy from renewable resources and is working to increase that number.

John McWilliams, a senior resource planning engineer for Dairyland Power Cooperative, was the first person to earn a Biorenewable Resources and Technologies graduate certificate from Iowa State University.

McWilliams was the first person to earn a Biorenewable Resources and Technologies (BRT) graduate certificate from Iowa State. He credits it with helping him understand the possibilities of new energy sources.

“The next era of electric generation projects will involve more biorenewables,” he states. “Understanding the harvesting, processing and storage requirements of biorenewables and the complexity of turning biorenewables into electricity was the driving need for further education in biorenewables.”

Online Availability and Credibility Both Important

Iowa State’s BRT graduate certificate program consists of twelve credit hours of coursework, and offers students from a variety of science and engineering backgrounds advanced study in the use of plant and crop-based resources for the production of biobased products, such as fuels, chemicals, materials, and energy, as well as, an in-depth look at current domestic and international law and policy issues.

Jacqulyn Baughman, director of ISU’s BRT Graduate Certificate Studies, encourages those seeking professional development in biorenewables to consider earning a certificate to increase their career opportunities in this advancing field. The majority of students select the BRT certificate in addition to pursuing an online master’s program at ISU.

The certificate can be earned online, a critical aspect for McWilliams. “That is important to a working professional,” he said. “It meant not having to take time away from work.” McWilliams also has a B.S. and M.S. in engineering as well as an MBA.

Equally important, however, is credibility of a research institute such as Iowa State, a world leader in biorenewable technology and education. “Dairyland Power Cooperative recognizes the certificate as valid because it was Iowa State and because of the program quality,” McWilliams says. He added that one of the highlights of the certificate was learning about biorenewables from Robert C. Brown, BEI director. “Dr. Brown wrote the book on the subject and is considered one of the top biorenewables experts in the U.S.,” McWilliams says.

Have a biorenewable program? – email us here to be profiled in this series.