Kate Flynn
ChemE seniors Tami McTaggart and Lauren Alexander share a vision of the future of the UW Biodoesel Cooperative. Along with their fellow officers, they picture a working laboratory where undergraduate students produce biodiesel fuel, manage a non-profit business, educate the community about alternative fuels -- and have fun! Their ambitious plans recently got a boost from the UW Campus Sustainability Fund (CSF) in the form of an $89,000 grant award to house and operate a biodiesel reactor that converts used cooking oil generated by campus restaurants into fuel-grade biodiesel.
About a year ago, the student-run Biodiesel Cooperative found itself without space, a functioning reactor, or funds, truly requiring its officers to take a forward-looking approach. Asked how they handled such unexpected – and unscientific – challenges, the students give a big laugh. “Really, I don’t think we knew what we were getting into,” Tami says. “When I joined Biodiesel, I was excited about doing something that was not in class, but more independent. And as the needs of the group develop, you go with it.”
Group members reached out to units across campus to spread word about the biodiesel project and build relationships. The success of their collaborative strategy speaks for itself. ASUW unanimously supported the cooperative’s mission on campus, UW Fleet Services provided a free site for the lab, the College of Engineering agreed to fund the purchase of a new reactor, and now the CSF award will cover costs to house and equip a lab. Production of the first batch of fuel is slated for the end of this summer.
ChemE Professor Jim Pfaendtner, faculty advisor to the two ChemE seniors, has witnessed the group’s efforts over the years. “Since its inception, the Biodiesel Cooperative has been a visible reminder of what is so remarkable about UW engineering students,” he says. “Lauren and Tami, along with many others, have pioneered a new place on campus for students to contribute and learn about sustainable production of transportation fuels. I am confident they have made a lasting contribution to the department and campus.”
What does a startup look like? Undergraduates (from left) Tony Serna, Wyatt Curtis, Rowdy Roddick, Cameron McCallum, Tami McTaggart, Sam Wilson, Lauren Alexander, and Zach LaTurner are transforming this vacant lot into the new home of the UW Biodiesel Cooperative.
Tami and Lauren speak highly of the UW community’s impressive support for the biodiesel project. They are thrilled to be at the helm of a successful re-startup and realize their vision of sustainability.
New Projects, Next Steps
Just as fuel production begins, this year's officers will be taking the next step in their engineering careers. Tami graduates this spring with degrees in Chemical Engineering and Mathematics and begins graduate school next fall. “I like the physical world of making things, producing things,” she says. She explains further that petroleum is used in the production of all kinds of products, many, such as pharmaceuticals, we might not expect. “My intended project for grad school involves engineering bacteria to replace what we have previously gotten from petroleum. One reason I got involved with Biodiesel is that I believe we need to continue pursuing sustainability, especially with petroleum products.”
Lauren, a Chemical Engineering major with minors in Chemistry and Applied Math, plans to move into a position in industry focusing on industrial water treatment. “I’ve learned I like group projects presenting complex challenges, and I take that with me as I transition into industry,” she says. Lauren's work with Biodiesel, and her senior design project, helped her clarify how to effectively address the issues she cares about. "At this year’s UW Environmental Challenge, I recognized that positive changes for the environment are going to be driven by the economy and business, and that’s how you have to come at them. The Co-op is one very useful way to realize what I consider to be a truth in our society."
Other officers, Bioresource Science and Engineering majors Rowdy Roddick and Cameron McCallum, are also moving on in their careers. In April the group elected new officers to carry on the project in the coming academic year.
To find additional information — or get involved — visit the UW Biodiesel site.