College science students interested in learning about all aspects of the biodiesel industry can apply for a travel scholarship to attend the National Biodiesel Conference & Expo, Jan. 16-19 in San Diego. The application process is open for members of the Next Generation Scientists for Biodiesel for scholarships, and to present a poster on their research or outreach activities.

Next Generation Scientists for Biodiesel is a National Biodiesel Board program intended to foster professional relationships between budding and established scientists, share accurate information and increase collaboration with academia and the biodiesel industry.

Student opportunities include a poster session and breakout session to present their research, a preconference biodiesel educational overview and a mentoring lunch with prominent biodiesel scientists.

Last year, more than 30 students attended the event from schools including Colorado State University, Clemson University, Yale University and the University of Missouri.

Many of the students, who came from a wide range of disciplines, noted the impact the event made on them.

“The biggest change on my views of biodiesel after attending the conference was in my understanding of what makes biodiesel sustainable,” said Jesse Mayer, a biochemistry major at the University of Nevada-Reno. “Now I’m always sure to stress the minimal impact biodiesel has on food production in lab meetings and in other interactions with colleagues.”

Mayer is now one of four student co-chairs of the program.

The National Biodiesel Board, the United Soybean Board and the National Biodiesel Foundation sponsor the scholarships, which amount to a $600 travel reimbursement. Apply by Nov. 18 at biodiesel.org/ngsb/.

Made from an increasingly diverse mix of resources such as recycled cooking oil, soybean oil and animal fats, biodiesel is a renewable, clean-burning diesel replacement that can be used in existing diesel engines without modification. It is the nation’s first domestically produced, commercially available advanced biofuel. NBB is the U.S. biodiesel trade association.