Cellulosic Ethanol Event in Southern California

The Solution To High Gas Prices Is Revealed By Top Purdue Scientist

The importance of biofuel has never been more important to the security and economic future of the United States than now. The Compound Annual Growth Rate of cellulosic industry from 2008 to 2022 estimates to reach 435.63% while Energy Independence and Security act mandates the supply of cellulosic ethanol must reach 16 billions gallon in 2022. To help farmers and company to produce cellulosic ethanol more efficiently, an award winning Purdue Scientist will be revealing the latest breakthrough in Cellulosic Ethanol Production, an alternative to conventional corn based ethanol.

Dr. Nancy W.Y. Ho, a molecular biologist and group leader from Purdue University will be illuminating the latest research she and her team have been working on, named “Ho-Purdue Yeast.” According to Dr. Ho, “It’s about weaning America from its self-destructive oil habit by tapping the energy in everything else that grows–and rots–all around us.”

Dr. Ho has spent the better part of a career at Purdue University figuring out how to convert the DNA of a simple form of brewer’s yeast by cloning a gene nobody else had thought to clone. Now, if you stir her creation into a beaker filled with the sugars derived from throwaway organic materials like wheat straw, switch grass, orange peels, or any agricultural waste, it will gradually convert most of them into high-octane auto fuel.

The U.S. Department of Energy has already successfully deployed Dr. Ho’s “yeast” research and has sponsored the creation of an ethanol demonstration plant. For those who are interested in participating in the growing cellulosic industry and intend to increase the revenue of their own farms, it is the seminar you should not miss.

Next Generation of Ethanol Production- An Introduction to the Ho-Purdue Yeast

Venue: Imperial County Farm Bureau

1000 Broadway El Centro, CA 92243

Date: March 20, 2008

Time: 2 to 5 p.m.

Speaker: Nancy W. Y. Ho

RSVP: Please register if you want to join the event FREE of charge.

Curriculum Vitae

Nancy W. Y. Ho
Research Molecular Biologist/Group Leader
Laboratory of Renewable Resources Engineering
Purdue University
Potter Engineering Center
500 Central Drive
West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-2022
Phone: 765-494-7046; Fax: 765-494-7046
nwyho@purdue.edu

EDUCATION
• Ph. D. Molecular Biology, Purdue University, 1968
• M. A Organic Chemistry, Temple University, 1960
• B. S. Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University, 1957

RESEARCH AND/OR PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
• Senior Research Scientist and Group Leader of Molecular Genetics Group, LORRE, July 1, 1980 to present.
• Graduate Faculty, Department of Foods & Nutrition, Purdue University, Sept.1, 1982 to present

HONORS, RECOGNITIONS, AND OTHER AWARDS

2004 Since April 2004 , Iogen, a Canadian company, has used the engineered yeast developed by Dr. Ho at Purdue University to produce ethanol from wheat straw in the world‘s first production plant of its kind. Purdue University issued a news release on June 28, 2004 entitled, Purdue yeast makes ethanol from agricultural waste more effectively, to mark this special event. Many newspapers and magazines have also reported upon this exciting development.

1999 The genetically engineered Saccharomyces yeasts developed by Dr. Ho were also honored by Discover Magazine as one of 27 of the most important technological innovations of 1999 selected from more than 4000 technological innovations worldwide. Dr. Ho was honored by Discover Magazine as one of the 27 finalists of the Discover Award for that year.

1998 R&D 100 Award from R&D Magazine for her successful development of the genetically engineered Saccharomyces yeast that can effectively co-ferment both glucose and xylose from cellulosic biomass, which has made biomass-to-ethanol technology closer to commercialization. The Chicago Tribune has called this award “The Oscar of Invention.” Others have referred to the award as “the Nobel Prize of Applied Research.”