Then and Now: 120 Bioeconomy Pioneers look at yesterday, today, inspirations and challenges

Robert Baldwin

Then: I was a professor and Head of Chemical Engineering at a new university in the middle east specializing in preparing students for the oil and gas industry.

Now: I’m working at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) – where we don’t do much with fossil petroleum (although stranded/flared gas is fair game!). My job function has to do with technical and business development aspects of biomass conversion (thermochem and biochem) to fuels and bio-based products.

Inspirations: Sustainability is the key – how can anyone be opposed to a more sustainable economy?

Challenges:  Opposition (either overt or covert) and lack of understanding by those who make the rules, and that pesky thing known as economic viability.