Biorenewable Fuel and Fertiliser: Realising the Potential

Fera, York, UK24 March 2010, 09.30 - 17.15 Organised by SCI’s Science & Enterprise Group, Environment Group, Yorkshire & the Humber Group, Fera, and CIWEM Tyne & Humber Branch

Synopsis

This joint SCI/Fera event is focused on business opportunities around AD. The morning session will open with an overview of the regulatory playing field; inputs, technology and biomethane utilisation; environmental law issues; constraints on the use of biosolids; and the use of existing assets. The afternoon session will open with a review of the risks, then an overview of the sewage sludge phytoconditioning process, followed by opportunities for business, including co-digestion of waste with sewage sludge, the case for recycling plant nutrients, and biogas generation. Two panel discussion sessions will provide time to explore issues raised in the presentations.


Biogas and biosolids from anaerobic digestion (AD) are very topical in view of the Food Waste and Energy imperatives, which will lead to a large increase in AD capacity over the next five years. AD provides a viable solution for Food and Farm Waste, which will not be allowed in landfill after 2015. Biogas from AD is expected to become a significant contributor of renewable heat and power. The water industry is already well along the learning curve, as it now treats about half of all sewage by AD, yet despite this long experience, there are still concerns around use of biosolids (digestate) as fertiliser.

The event will be of interest to anyone who is involved in the management or treatment of food and farm waste, or sewage; or the operation of AD units; the use of biogas and biosolids, as well as those working on optimisation of AD processes, biogas yield, and utilisation of biogas and biosolids.

For more information, please contact:
Conference Team T: +44 (0)20 7598 1561 F: +44 (0)20 7235 7743 E: conferences@soci.org

Source : http://www.soci.org/General-Pages/Display-Event?EventCode=SE976

Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Program, Fiscal 2010, Competitive Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program: Description and Application Proces

David Smallwood and Victor Oliveira Administrative Publication No. (AP-044) 25 pp, February 2010 The Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Program (FANRP) of the USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) announces the availability of funds and a request for applications to conduct research that focuses on USDA’s domestic food assistance and nutrition programs.


The three priority research areas are (1) Food Assistance and Children’s Well-Being, (2) Interactions Between the Built Environment and Food Assistance Programs, and (3) Using Behavioral Economics and Incentives To Promote Child Nutrition. ERS will accept proposals under this program for funding levels, inclusive of indirect cost when applicable, between $100,000 and $400,000 (for the duration of the grant and/or the cooperative agreement, not to exceed 3 years). Total funding available for this research is approximately $2.2-$2.7 million. The deadline for proposal submission is April 12, 2010.
Keywords: Food assistance programs, children’s well-being, built environment, behavioral economics, incentives, SNAP, WIC, child nutrition programs, food security, low-income people, Competitive Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program, ERS, FANRP, USDA
In this report ...
Chapters are in Adobe Acrobat PDF format.
Entire document, 2,577 kb.
Updated date: February 12, 2010 For more information, contact: webadmin@ers.usda.gov
Web administration: webadmin@ers.usda.gov
Source : http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/AP/AP044/

PhD scholarship in Environmental Assessment of CO2 Contamination in Shallow Aquifers at Technical University of Denmark

PhD scholarship in Environmental Assessment of CO2 Contamination in Shallow Aquifers at Technical University of Denmark

PhD scholarship in Environmental Assessment of CO2 Contamination in Shallow Aquifers at Technical University of Denmark

Application deadline March 1st, 2010.

Effects on groundwater quality related to the release of CO2 from underground CO2 storage.

Applications are invited for a PhD scholarship in the area of groundwater geochemistry related to potential effects of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) The PhD position will be funded by the Danish Council for Strategic Research, in the research project Environmental Technology For Geological Storage Of Carbon Dioxide running 2010-2013.



Project Description
The need to reduce the rise in the CO2 concentration of the atmosphere has initiated the development of techniques aiming at reducing the CO2 emission from power plants and other point sources. One of these techniques is to capture CO2 at the point source and then inject it in pressurized form as a supercritical liquid into depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs, in the deep ocean or in deep saline aquifers. Little attention has so far been paid on the possible impacts of CO2 storage on the shallow groundwater systems which frequently are exploited for drinking water and feed streams and wetlands. The acidification caused by CO2 entering the aquifer from below could mobilize trace metals and the higher levels of bicarbonate might desorb phosphate and arsenate deteriorating drinking water and surface water quality. Increased rates of mineral dissolution could increase aquifer permeability leading to rapid transport of contaminants. Field based studies elucidating these aspects are clearly needed.


The PhD project will investigate the consequences of high CO2 concentrations entering into aquifers through a combination of laboratory column experiments and field experiments in aquifers. Geochemical modeling should be an integral part of the experimental planning and interpretation and extrapolation of the results.

Qualifications
For this position we seek a PhD candidate with a Master`s degree in aquatic geochemistry or a related field. Experience with laboratory and field investigations as well as geochemical modeling will be advantageous. We expect good communication skills, both verbally and in writing. The position is open to both international and Danish candidates.

The PhD project will be carried out at DTU Environment www.env.dtu.dk in close collaboration with GEUS (Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland) (www.geus.dk).

Approval and Enrolment
The PhD candidate will be enrolled at the Technical University of Denmark, DTU Environment and be part of the large and divers group of PhD students there. The full scholarship will be for an enrollment period of 3 years.

The scholarships for the PhD degree are subject to academic approval, and the candidates will be enrolled in the Chemistry, Biotechnology and Chemical Engineering PhD programme at DTU. For information about the general requirements for enrolment and the general planning of the scholarship studies, please see the DTU PhD Guide.

Salary and Appointment Terms
The salary and appointment terms (3 years) are consistent with the current rules for PhD students.

The successful candidate will be expected to start as soon as possible after May 1st, 2010.

Further information
Further information is available from Associate Professor Rasmus Jakobsen, DTU Environment, e-mail raj@env.dtu.dk (DO NOT SEND APPLICATION TO THIS E-MAIL).

Application
We must have your online application by 8 March 2010. Please open the link `apply online` and fill in the application form and attach your application, CV and other relevant documents.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.

Website link:
http://www.dtu.dk/English/About_DTU/vacancies.aspx?guid=7fcc57da-4b07-4179-bd52-c67861b9c0e2

Indonesian Seminar of Indonesian Society for Micobiology 4-7 October 2010

Indonesian Seminar of Indonesian Society for Micobiology : Harnessing the power of microbes for better food, agro-industry, health, and environment

Bogor, Indonesia 4-7 October 2010

General Information

Conference language

The official language of the conference and workshop is english.

Time Zone

Jakarta is 7 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+7)

Currency

The unit of Indonesian currency is Rupiah (Rp). US dollars and other major currencies in banknotes or travelers cheque are easily exchangeable in banks or at authorised money changers in main tourist destinations.

Airport Tax

An airport tax Rp 140,000 is imposed by the airport for travelers on international routes and Rp 35,000 for those on domestic routes.

Tipping

At most hotels and restaurants service charge 21% tax and service is added to the bill. An airport or hotel porter expects Rp 5,000 per bag. Taxi drivers will round up to the nearest Rp 500 or Rp 1,000. Leaving the change is appreciated but not mandatory. It is advisable to carry small change as taxi drives are often short of change.

Office Hours

Government offices open from 8.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. from Monday to Friday in Jakarta and close on Saturday and Sunday. Business offices have staggered hours. Banks are open from either 8.00 or 8.30 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. Banks in hotels stay open longer hours, and money changers till the evening. Shopping centers open from 10.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m. everyday.

Electricity

Power supply is usually 220 volts/50 cycles, but 110 volts is still used in some region. Normal outlets are plugs with two rounded prongs. It is advisable to check before using your appliances.

Telephone

Telephone Dial 62 from outside Indonesia, then the city code and telephone number. Within Indonesia, the city code must be preceded by a zero (0) from most phones. To dial an international calls press 001 or 008 or find an International Direct Dial (IDD) in hotels or private telephone service (Wartel). For operator assistance dial 101 or 104. For general information in a province inside the country please dial (code area + 008) or dial 003 for time information.

Climate

Climatewise, Indonesia is distinctly tropical. The east monsoon from June to September brings dry weather while the west monsoon from December to March is moisture-laden bringing rain. Temperatures range from 21 °C (70 F) to 33 °C. (90 F). Humidity is between 60-100 %.

Visa

All travelers to Indonesia must be in possession of passport valid for at least six months from date of arrival and have proof (tickets) of onward or return passage. Immigration authority will provide Free Tourist Visas for a period of 30 days to national s from 11 countries only on the basis of reciprocity. The countries are Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, the Philippines, Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR, Chile, Morocco, Peru and Vietnam. Visa on Arrival (VOA) will be given to citi zens of Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Denmark, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Norway, Poland, South Africa, South Korea, Switzerland, New Zealand, Taiwan, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States of America, Austria, Belgium, India,Ireland, Kuwait, Luxemburg, Maldives, Egypt, Oman, Portuguese, Qatar, The People of Republic China, Russian, Saudi Arabian, Spain, Bahrain, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cyprus, Estonia, Greece , Iran, Iceland, Laos PDR, Liechtenstein, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Nederland, Suriname, Sweden, Aljazair, Czechoslovakia, Fiji, Latvia, Libya, Lithuania, Panama, Slovakia, Slovenia, Rumania, Tunisia. Visa on arrival is valid for 30 days. Other nationals must apply for visa at Indonesia Embassies or Consulates in their home country. In addition, the visa cannot be replaced with any other of immigration letters. Some conditions apply; please visit www.indonesia.com for further information.

Etiquette

It is inappropriate to use the left hand to eat or to give or receive anything.


Visit Indonesia

www.my-indonesia.info

Futher information : http://www.isism2010.com/