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.