Fargo, N.D. — Chad Ulven, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at NDSU, will present "Renewable Materials Opportunities for the Region" at the BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota and LifeScience Alley Renewable Materials Summit: Emerging Markets in the Upper Midwest on April 27 at the Courtyard by Marriott in Moorhead, Minn.

The one-day program will feature industry leaders focusing on developing and established markets in renewable materials, while exploring issues yet to be confronted. Ulven is a member of the West Central Renewable Materials Coalition that will host the event. "The Midwest has the potential to be a global leader in the renewable materials industry," Ulven said. "Our region has considerable strengths in material science, engineering and processing. From feedstock to manufacturing, we have all the capabilities to establish and grow this industry."

The renewable materials market includes materials that are made from biological sources. These can be biofibers, biopolymers, biodegradable plastics and biopackaging. Familiar resources used to make these materials include corn, soybeans and wood fibers.

"The renewable materials industry is developing quickly," said Dale Wahlstrom, CEO/president of The BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota and LifeScience Alley. "Companies and communities need to be educated on these opportunities so they are in a position to capitalize on this growing market."

The student rate for the conference is $30 and early-bird registration is $50 until April 18. To register, visit  LifeScience Alley's homepage, http://www.lifesciencealley.org,  and click on the event calendar.