NSBE - Winter 2013 - (Page 42)

TRAILBLAZERS Helping BP ‘Fuel the Future’ By Lynette Locke senior research associate. One of his main responsibilities is helping BP make auto fuel from algae. Mr. Edge looks at algae and other microbial organisms grown in the lab and develops processes to harvest the naturally occurring fatty acids from their cells, process them and convert them into a form suitable for use as fuel. He says his job is not “reinventing the wheel but rather reinventing its use.” And he enjoys the constant learning that his job requires. “Sometimes I’m able to solve problems by taking innovations from other industries and applying them to my own,” he says. “Anybody, with a little bit of training, can add sugar, water, salt and then algae, and mix it at the right temperature to get some useful products at the end of it. Nonetheless, it takes a lot of care and some ingenuity to be able to do that consistently, for the next century, around the world, to produce a fuel product that people use almost as much as drinking water.” Hard work and a few key people and organizations have helped him get to this point in his career, Mr. NSBE member Arthur Edge, senior research associate at DSM, seeks alternative Edge says. From grades 3 through 12, he participated fuels for BP. in the Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program (DAPCEP). His parents took him to the program’s classes on hese days, “going green” in the energy sector is not just Saturday mornings, and during the week during the summer good public relations, it’s a necessity, as well as cause months. for a rollout in spectacular form. This past summer, “They recognized my love for math and science at a very the London-based oil and gas giant BP showed the early age and encouraged it. This helped, especially when I had world how it’s done, at the 2012 Olympic Games, which not to study late nights in middle and high school and when my only showcased the best athletes on the planet but also proclassmates didn’t always think my interests were as cool,” he vided a platform for an important alternative fuel launch. says. Worldwide demand for energy continues to grow, as does the At the University of Michigan, where he earned his bachelor’s need to research and develop new, noncarbon-based fuels. In degree in chemical engineering, Mr. Edge had great advisors, London, the site of the Games, BP’s Biofuels division demonhe says, particularly Susan Montgomery, strated the newest generation of renewal who knew every student by name and had fuels: cellulosic ethanol, renewable diesel and encouraging words for him when he felt like biobutanol, which were used to power the quitting. He also had his NSBE chapter at the fleet of Olympic vehicles. The company built university, which taught him the basics of pavilions where it grew miscanthus grass, leadership and management, he says. a component of cellulosic ethanol, and had Another inspiration is his 15-year-old demonstrations to educate visitors and altersister, Alexis, who is an aspiring environmennative energy skeptics about the new fuels. BP tal scientist and performs research on Wayne also provided a glimpse into the future with State University’s campus in Detroit, as part a newfangled fuel pump that recognizes what of a youth research group called Eco-Tek. car kind is rolling up to it and what type of Mr. Edge wants to help produce the next fuel it needs. whiz kids in his field. One of his goals is to Behind the scenes, many brainy engistart a nonprofit organization to develop, neers are helping BP “fuel the future.” One improve or implement curricula to prepare of them is Arthur Edge, president of NSBE’s underrepresented minority youth for Washington, D.C. Alumni Chapter. Mr. Edge college-level STEM — science, technology, works at DSM, a science-based health, nutriengineering and math. ■ tion and materials company, where he is a CAREER ENGINEER • winter 2013 t 42 • • www.nsbe.org http://www.nsbe.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NSBE - Winter 2013

NSBE - Winter 2013
Contents
Graduation! Pump Up the Party
Clean Up Your Digital Brand
Reelected
ITW’s Dr. Alexander Anim- Mensah
Steven Henderson of Life Technologies
Patricia Edmonds of NAVAIR
Franklin E. Leaven Jr. of GE Transportation
General Mills: Winning through Diversity
Eye of the Tiger
39TH ANNUAL CONVENTION PREVIEW
Golden Torch Honorees
The Professional’s Perspective
Trailblazers
Professional Development Conference Recap
CE Cover CODE2040: Grooming Business Leaders in Silicon Valley
Uhuru: Freedom
‘To Increase the Number…’
NSBE Calendar
NCEES Employer Profile
Advertisers Index

NSBE - Winter 2013