There's a lot going on in Wisconsin in terms of bioenergy research and development, Ben Brancel, secretary of Wisconsin's Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, told participants at a recent WIST event. That's the good news. The challenge, Brancel said, is connecting the various players in order to maximize chances of success and fully take advantage of the state's abundant resources.

Brancel spoke at Focal Point 2011: Celebrating a year of Successful Collaborations, a half-day research symposium and networking event hosted by WIST and UWSP in the campus's Dreyfus University Center. Brancel said his department is tackling the challenge outlined by meeting with individuals, companies and organizations around the state and working on opportunities for collaboration.

Following the kickoff breakfast, participants had the opportunity to take in presentations by UWSP faculty and staff on research projects underway in areas ranging from sustainable transportation to groundwater pollution monitoring. The event ended with a luncheon and a presentation by UWSP forestry professor Les Werner on a new laboratory facility on campus aimed at enhancing understanding of ecological processes and ecosystem functioning. The facility, called the Environmental Microbial Analysis and Research Lab, also offers fee-based services for molecular analysis, including microbial community profiles and microbial biomass estimates.

WIST plans to make Focal Point an annual event, with each event concentrating on a different topic or research and development area. Watch for announcements as Focal Point 2012 develops.