University of Maine |
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Visions and Goals |
The Research Group for Industrial Ecology, LCA and Systems Sustainability (IELCASS) was established in 2009 by Dr. Anthony Halog. Our mission is to provide cutting-edge research and training in the field of industrial ecology and systems sustainability through cross-disciplinary, life cycle thinking, integrative, and quantitative analyses. We pursue the vision of a viable, sustainable, domestic biorefinery industry that: · Produces renewable biofuels, bioproducts, and biopower · Enhances energy security · Reduces our dependence on oil · Provides environmental benefits, including reduced greenhouse gas emissions Our goals are: · Developing a nationally/internationally recognized research program that advances the methods of life cycle assessment (LCA) and industrial ecology to assess the environmental, ecological, economic and land use impacts of bioproducts and biofuels; · Developing and applying quantitative methods related to studying the life cycle environmental impacts of product life cycles; · Developing life cycle inventory (LCI) data related to biomass based fuels and products; · Providing solution-driven research in industrial ecology and sustainability through innovations and systems thinking; · Advancing our understandings on dynamic human-environment interactions; · Training students and researchers in an inter-disciplinary environment with world-class research programs; · Supporting local, regional, and national environmental and natural resources policy ; · Providing assistance to representatives from forest industry and landowners as well as natural resource sector. |