2008: A Year In Review

Over the past year, the Natural Resources Management & Development Institute (NRMDI) has continued to focus on collaboration, infrastructure and program development. In addition to coordinating the efforts of the Center for Bioenergy and Bioproducts, and the Auburn University Water Resources Center, NRMDI integrated the Advanced Semiconductor Materials Research Program, and the Auburn University Environmental Institute into our operation.

We have participated in a host of special events, lectures, seminars, briefings, legislative workshops and press conferences intended to establish NRMDI as a national center for natural resource research and outreach expertise.  Further, we sought and secured a variety of extramural funding to support and enhance our programs.  Recently, these successful efforts were recognized by the Southern Growth Policies Board, who selected NRMDI as a recipient of the 2009 Southern Innovator Award for Alabama

 A selection of accomplishments from two of our more established programs is listed below:

 Center for Bioenergy and Bioproducts

• Completed construction Phases I and II (Analytical Lab and Fractionation Lab) and started construction of

       Phase III (Gasification Lab) for a new, on-campus Bioenergy and Bioproducts Laboratory

• Advanced existing Auburn Energy Partners Program to provide small-scale biodiesel systems as well as gasification,  heat and power generation systems for use by:
  • Farms (Dee River Ranch)
  • Municipalities (City of Gadsden, City of Fultondale, City of Enterprise, Henry County)
  • Businesses (Pecan Producers, Cabinet Manufacturers)
• Developed Mobile Biomass Gasification Unit to demonstrate renewable and distributed energy concepts statewide
  • Traveled more than 11,000 miles
  • Demonstrated unit to approximately 10,000 people
• Partnered with ADECA to host the 5^th Alabama Agricultural Energy Conference
• Initiated on-campus biodiesel production through capture of used cooking oil from AU dining halls
• Selected as 2008 Grand Challenge Award winner at USDA sponsored Bio Energy Awareness Days in Washington, DC.
• Serves as ongoing resource for and participant in Alabama Permanent Joint Legislative Committee on Energy

 

Auburn University Water Resources Center

• Hosted workshop and serves as ongoing resource for Alabama Permanent Joint Legislative Committee on Water Policy and Management
• At the request of the Alabama Farmer’s Federation, facilitated roundtable discussions concerning:
  • Agricultural Water Usage
  • State Water Data Availability
    • Funded  significant integrated watershed research projects for two Alabama river basins
      • Projects to examine impacts on watershed economy and ecology with changes in land use/land cover
• Identified as a Center for Excellence in Watershed Management by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

 

Extramural Funding

 

External Funds Received/Committed:

		FY08	FY 09
Private		100,000	25,000
State		550,000	0
Federal		727,000	1,000,000
Total		$1,377,000	$1,025,000