The EERC is dedicated to improving global quality of life by creating, demonstrating, and commercializing innovative technologies for cleaner air, water, soil, and energy. With a professional staff of over 345, the EERC transfers the results of its cutting-edge science and engineering investigations to other researchers, industry, government, and the public through conferences, short courses, workshops, academic programs, and field experiences locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally.

World-Class Conferences
The EERC sponsors, organizes, conducts, and collaborates on energy and environmental conferences worldwide. The ability to focus on the most pressing issues and gather speakers and panelists for the right mix of technical expertise, industrial experience, and political acumen has made every EERC conference to date an unequivocal success.

The EERC’s Biomass ’10: Renewable Power, Fuels, and Chemicals Workshop was held in Grand Forks, North Dakota, in July 2010 and attracted over 300 registrants from 25 states, the District of Columbia, four Canadian provinces, and the countries of Brazil, Italy, and New Zealand. Attendees represented 175 organizations, over 60% of them from private industry. In its eighth year, the 2-day workshop included comprehensive educational sessions on topics such as trends and opportunities in utilizing biomass; biomass feedstocks; biofuels; and using biomass for creating chemicals, heat, and power as well as a panel discussion on the use of algae as a feedstock. Speakers included experts representing government, academia, and industry. Sponsors included the U.S. Department of Energy, the North Dakota Department of Commerce Division of Community Services State Energy Program, engineering firms, and utilities, among others.

For over four decades, the EERC has sponsored and organized such conferences in the United States and abroad in Canada, China, and the Czech Republic, collaborating with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) including the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), Gas Research Institute (now GTI), BNI Coal, the Air & Waste Management Association, the American Coal Ash Association, and others.

Workshops, Short Courses, and On-Site Training Tailored to Client Needs
The most direct and rewarding way to transfer information to small groups of motivated individuals is through workshops and short courses tailored to meet specific needs. At the request of U.S. and international companies, the EERC conducts these events at their sites or at EERC facilities. The EERC has hosted and conducted workshops, short courses, and training for representatives from Australia, Botswana, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Costa Rica, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Poland, and Switzerland, including on-site training in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Indonesia, and Poland. EERC researchers also make use of the Internet and satellite videoconferencing to further rapid information dissemination.

Student Employment and Mentoring Opportunities
As the principal research facility at the University of North Dakota (UND), the EERC is committed to providing employment and training opportunities for students from UND and other academic institutions in science and engineering fields as well as a variety of other disciplines. Each year, the EERC employs approximately 50 students, ranging from undergraduates to postdoctorates. Students come from across the nation and around the world to take advantage of the opportunity to gain firsthand experience working with the EERC's multidisciplinary team and state-of-the-art equipment and facilities. The EERC also participates in UND career fairs and other events for students.

Community Outreach
The EERC also works to promote interest and involvement in the sciences among young people, not only to encourage careers but also to foster responsible stewardship of our environment. The EERC provides internships and special events for school-aged children and a variety of educational experiences for the local community and the region via tours and participation in community and regional events focused on educating the public on energy and environmental issues.