It seems that every day we are bombarded with information about fuel: gas prices, natural gas prices, to drill or not to drill. All that information can be difficult to sort through or be concerned about.

In the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, our faculty members, researchers and students are also concerned about fuel: the renewable kind. They look at fuel in a different way.

This edition of the Dean's Update features work happening on campus to ensure that our fuel consumption is renewable and sustainable, and that it doesn't cause environmental problems. You'll read about our anaerobic digester facility that takes food waste generated in our dining halls and turns it into energy that heats a building. You'll also read about our students in our Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering major whose senior capstone projects give them real-world problems. Their only choice is to come up with real-world answers. You can also read about alumnus Kent Taylor whose work with the Climate Reality project is truly inspiring. David MacFarlane's work in Kenya to help that country determine its carbon credit process to save some of its forests is inspiring people worldwide.

The search for a dean of the college is in its final phase. An extraordinary team of committee members recently hosted four candidates for the position on campus. They have made a recommendation to the provost, who will ultimately make a recommendation to the Board of Trustees. You can read more about the dean's search on our website. We will send information on a new dean as soon as we have that information.

Thank you again for taking the time to catch up on what's happening in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Doug Buhler

Interim Dean and Professor