Visitors to tonight's Café Science event will hear how research taking place in Dundee is helping to turn food waste into fuel for our homes and cars.
Dr Joe Akunna, from the University of Abertay Dundee, will explain how left-over food can be used as an energy source when he delivers the next instalment of the Café Science series at Chambers Coffee House tonight (Monday, September 24)
Dr Akunna, who is based at Abertay’s Urban Water Technology Centre, is an internationally recognised expert on anaerobic digestion (AD) processes with food and agricultural residuals for the production of biofuels such as biogas (methane) and soil fertilisers.
He will discuss the possibilities of using waste as an alternative fuel source with reference to his current work and other research being carried out locally that is pushing the boundaries of science in sustainable technologies. This thought-provoking talk will encourage everyone to think more about the waste they create and the uses it can be put to.
Dr Akunna said:
“These days, we’re all getting better at recycling our rubbish – separating the paper from the plastic and taking glass jars and bottles to the bottle bank – but we rarely think about what we could do with the food we throw away.
“There’s more to potato peelings and onion skins than meets the eye though. They don’t just need to go in the bin or onto the compost heap but could, in fact, be converted into the fuel you use to cook your next meal, drive your car or even into heat and electricity.
“Although this practice is becoming more common in the UK, it’s been used successfully in places like Germany, France and Spain for a number of years, so, in this talk, I’ll be explaining the science behind the technique, and why it's a good source of renewable energy for us.”
The monthly Café Science events take the form of informal discussions led by leading local researchers that allow members of the public the opportunity to learn more about the ground-breaking science happening in Dundee.
Dr Akunna’s talk, ‘Making your rubbish work for you’ takes place tonight (Monday, 24th September) at 7pm. Seating is limited so attendees are advised to arrive early. Hot meals can be ordered until 6.30pm, and entry is free and open to all.
Café Science was launched in January 2008, and more than 3000 people have participated in the events since then.
For more information you can visit the Cafe Science website by clicking here.
