"Water, water, everywhere, Nor any drop to drink." This often quoted phrase from the Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner reminds us that the earth is rich in water resources. However, this water is not immediately useful for most consumer needs. It takes energy to provide clean water in a useful form. That’s why use of renewable fuels such as biodiesel is so important to secure our future access to clean water.

In 2012, 21 college students from across the nation attended the National Biodiesel Conference & Expo in Orlando. They joined the event thanks to scholarships set up for members of the Next Generation Scientists for Biodiesel, supported by the National Biodiesel Board.

View highlights from the National Biodiesel Conference & Expo in Orlando, Florida. The annual Conference & Expo is the only event that gathers biodiesel decision-makers from across the United States and around the world.

"My last post centered around all of us as individuals; needing a car to bridge the long distances between home and school, work, the grocery store and so many other places that many of us just can’t get to without our trusty automobile. Another staple of my childhood, along with the great American family vacation, was all those early mornings and late afternoons on the big yellow playground...the school bus."

Although the biodiesel industry has experienced tremendous growth, raw material supplies have served as a natural brake and created a strain on margins for biodiesel producers. This summary highlights a limited number of near-term and longer-term opportunities to add to the U.S. supply of raw materials for biodiesel production.

The next generation of science thought leaders are gearing up to lead America’s energy efforts. And biodiesel, our nation’s only commercially available advanced biofuel, is front and center. Student scientists from Dartmouth College in New Hampshire to Oregon State University in Corvallis are leading the initiative. The group has formed to demonstrate and grow support for biodiesel among tomorrow’s scientific leaders.