Michael Ott: Presidental Series Speaker

An expert on biofuels, Michael Ott discusses the nation's biorevolution and the growing bioeconomy. Ott's varied background includes a master's degree in bio-inorganic chemistry from the University of Iowa and works mostly in the financial world, from hedge funds to private equity making him well-suited to create these partnerships. Michael Ott is the executive director of BIOWA, a trade association for bio-based products with a focus on alternative fuels. BIOWA creates partnerships to help ethanol and bio-diesel plants create more products more efficiently. As bio-based products become cost-competitive with their oil-based counterparts, social and environmental benefits emerge. This triple-bottom-line focus creates businesses that are sustainable for the long term. Ott's talk will cover the ramifications of making fuel from corn, soybeans, switchgrass, and other feedstocks as well as highlight future employment opportunities for current students.