Thayer School of Engineering professor and co-founder of the Mascoma Corporation Lee Lynd was awarded the inaugural Lemelson-MIT Award for Sustainability on Monday. The award, which comes with $100,000, was given to Lynd in recognition of his work on the conversion of cellulosic material into ethanol.
Though ethanol is usually produced from corn seeds, Lynd's research is aimed at identifying different sources for the conversion process, including materials like wheat, grass and wood. Lynd also studies the use of the entire body of plants for conversion, rather than solely the seeds.
Lynd's group is also working to develop a one-step process for converting this cellulosic material into ethanol and other biofuels in a process called consolidated bioprocessing (CBP), which Lynd described as "the ultimate low-cost way to make cellulosic ethanol."
"CBP is an innovation which is still unfolding," Lynd explained. "[The Lemelson-MIT program] is investing in something that's ongoing."
In addition to the lower cost of these raw materials, this new technology would also provide significant environmental benefits, because the burning of ethanol results in "nearly zero net greenhouse gas emissions," Lynd said.
Environmentalists also point to the growth of cellulosic material instead of corn as a benefit of the process, as these materials make for more fertile soil.
Lynd stressed the importance of sustainable fuel development.
"When future generations look back on how people live now, they're going to judge us on how well we did it," Lynd said.
Lynd began his work on the conversion of biomass to ethanol as an undergraduate at Bates College, where he wrote his senior thesis on the topic.
"I think it's fair to say that most academics organize their careers by developing an expertise," Lynd said. "In my case I've chosen an area I want to impact -- which is broadly sustainable energy, and more specifically sustainable fuels."
Lynd formerly served as the biofuels industry representative to an advisory committee focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from personal vehicles, which reported to former President Bill Clinton.
The Mascoma Corporation is dedicated to research on this topic. The business, which received a $4.9 million dollar grant from the U.S. government in late March, conducts its research at the Dartmouth Regional Technology Center.
He said he plans to use the money to broaden the scope of his research and investigate new projects that he would otherwise not have been able to fund. In particular, he noted that the money might be helpful in convening groups of people without needing to wait for grants or in accepting new students to aid with research.
"I think to use it well I have to and want to use it for things I wouldn't have done otherwise," Lynd said.
The non-profit Lemelson-MIT Program, which is dedicated to honoring inventors, was founded by Jerome and Dorothy Lemelson at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1994. While this is the first year the organization has given out the Award for Sustainability, the program presents an inventor with a $500,000 prize annually. This year's award was given to Timothy Swager of MIT for his work on explosive-sniffing technology.
Swager and Lynd will participate in "Eurekafest," an event organized by the Lemelson-MIT Program in conjunction with the Museum of Science of Boston, to be held from May 2 to 5.
