NCERC at SIUE Welcomes Community to 10th Anniversary Events
News Release
Contact: Courtney Breckenridge
[email protected]
Office: 618-659-6737 ext. 230
EDWARDSVILLE - The NCERC at SIUE turns 10 this month, and is inviting the community to turn out for tours, lunch and demonstrations at an Open House on Wednesday, Oct. 16 in honor of the milestone.
“People often tell us that they’ve always wondered what lies beyond our doors,” NCERC Director John Caupert said. “The Open House is a great opportunity to answer that curiosity and learn about the Center’s many contributions to the biofuels industry.”
The Open House runs from noon-4 p.m., with tours, demonstrations and presentations running throughout the day. A free lunch, sponsored by Siemens Industry, Inc., will be available between noon-1:30 p.m.
The Iowa Corn Growers Association’s Biofuels Mobile Education Center is another Open House attraction. The 45-foot long mobile education center features interactive computers, educational displays, videos and fun facts about ethanol. The Illinois Corn Growers Association funded the mobile center’s appearance.
The NCERC opened its doors as a one-of-a-kind pilot-scale research facility to support the corn ethanol industry in October 2003. Since that time, the Center has been on the leading edge of biofuels research for both the public and private sectors.
“More than 50 technologies that have passed through our building are now in the commercial marketplace,” Caupert said. “The Center continues to conduct groundbreaking research that has the potential to address some of the most pressing issues of our day. We hope people will come out to learn more about who we are and come away with a better understanding of what we’re doing right here in Edwardsville.”
“During the last decade, the Center has undergone significant changes to keep up with the evolution of biofuels policy and industrial needs,” Caupert added. “Yet despite the many changes from technology and equipment to feedstocks and process, our mission and our role remain the same: to facilitate the research, development, and commercialization of biofuels.”
About The NCERC
The NCERC is a nationally recognized research center dedicated to the development and commercialization of biofuels, specialty chemicals and other renewable compounds. The Center’s fully functional dry grind pilot plant and laboratories are equipped with advanced biofuels capabilities including corn fractionation, pretreatment, and a fermentation suite with 5, 30, 150 and 1500L scale-up. Facilities are staffed by industry veterans with more than 100 years of collective experience in fermentation and biofuels production. This knowledgeable team has the flexibility and expertise to design and carry out projects in any region of the advanced biofuels or specialty chemicals space. For more information, contact Courtney Breckenridge, (618) 659-6737 ext. 230, [email protected], or visit http://www.ethanolresearch.com.
