2009 4-H National Youth Science Day on
Materials available at www.4-h.org/nysd

Test your science skills in the 2009 4-H national Youth Science Experiment - "Biofuel Blast" - where you can engage in the important environmental issues our global community faces together and the opportunity available for a greener tomorrow.

As our nation grapples with important environmental issues such as global warming, sustainability and energy independence, “biofuels” —sources of energy obtained from recently harvested plant materials— are at the forefront of the discussion of alternative energy sources.  At 4-H, we encourage the youth of today to become our nation’s future leaders. And, as such, it’s vital for youth to understand and engage in the important environmental issues our global community faces together, and the opportunities available for a greener tomorrow.

On 4-H National Youth Science Day – October 7, 2009 –millions of young people all across the U.S. will actively participate in a live demonstration of how organic materials can be converted to fuel to supply energy. The experiment offers several activities to showcase how cellulose and sugars in plants can be used to create ethanol.  In one activity, for example, youth will combine corn syrup and yeast in a plastic container and cover the bottle’s mouth with a balloon.  They will watch as the yeast breaks down the natural sugars in the corn, which will create ethanol in the substrate mixture and also release CO2 gas that will inflate the balloon. 

In addition to testing corn syrup, youth will test and discuss other alternative fuel options, including switchgrass, sawdust, sorghum and even algae. These fuel alternatives – researched by the 106 Land-Grant Universities and Colleges across the nation that oversee 4-H youth development programs in every state – differ by region throughout the U.S., providing an opportunity for youth to learn about their home region as well as others. 

August 1, 2009: The Biofuel Future: Overview of Biofuels!
Biofuels are liquid energy Version 2.0. Unlike their fossil fuel counterparts — the cadaverous remains of plants that died hundreds of millions of years ago — biofuels come from vegetation grown in the here and now.

Support Documents

• National 4-H NYSE 2-Page Flyer (Word) (PDF)
• California 4-H NYSE PowerPoint (PPT) (PDF)
• California 4-H NYSE Poster (PDF) - From Richard Mahacek, Merced 4-H Youth Development Advisor
• Alternative Energy Vehicles (PDF) - From Richard Mahacek, Merced 4-H Youth Development Advisor
• California State Assessment for Biomass Resources

Photo Gallery

Events Going on Around California

• Alameda County: Led at the Redwood 4-H Club on October 7 at 6:30pm.
• El Dorado County: Led at the 4-H Office on October 7, 6-8pm.
• Fresno: Held at three elementary schools in the Fowler Unified School district on Oct 7.
• Glenn/Tehama Counties: Thirty After School sites conducting the experiment!
• Humboldt County: 4-H staff conducting the experiment with the County 4-H Leaders' Council on Sept. 28.
• Imperial County: Expanding the basic experiment. Kits will be offered to 4-H volunteers. 4-H is getting valley farmers engaged who are already part of a commercial biofuel operation!
• Lake County: Supplying each 4-H Club with a kit; each club will determine appropriate place and time.
• Placer County: Conducting the experiment at the County Achievement Night, October 3, 6:30pm at the Loomis Memorial Hall.  County 4-H Office preparing a kit for each 4-H Club to conduct at their October 4-H Club meeting.
• Orange County: Oct 7, 4:00pm, Solano Park, 21682 Via Regresso, Rancho Santa Margarita.  RSVP to Vicki Doddridge at nonstopkids@cox.net or 949-766-8708.
• Riverside County: Will offer the experiment at the county fair all week, So. Cal Fair in Lake Perris, 3rd week in October.
• San Bernardino County: First week of October (National 4-H Week) titled "4-H Science Week". Each day, 4-H staff, volunteers and teens will engage youth at an elementary afterschool program in 4-H SET activities.
• San Diego County: Assemblying discovery kits for each 4-H Club with the materials needed.
• San Mateo County: Featuring the experiment at the Awards and Enrollment Social on October 4.  4-H Clubs will be conducting the experiment throughout October.
• San Luis Obispo County: Five experiments led with 4th grade classes at the SLO County's "The Great AGventure" event on October 7.  Nipomo Foothill and Rio Rancheros 4-H Clubs will lead the experiment at a club meeting.
• Siskiyou County: Three 4-H Clubs (approx 150 members) leading the experiment during National 4-H Week. 4-H members leading the experiment at After School programs the month of October.
• Solano County: 4-H All Star Ambassadors tentatively plan to lead experiment at County Board of Supervisors meeting on October 6.
• Tuolumne County: Eight 4-H Clubs will lead the experiment at their club meetings the 2nd week of October. Setup at the beginning of the meeting, hold the business meeting, and then observe and discuss after the meeting.
• Ventura County: Ordered kits for all 18 4-H Clubs; each club will determine appropriate place and time.

Don't see your county listed?  Contact your County 4-H Cooperative Extension Office for more information

Biofuel Research from the University of California

July 20, 2009 at UC Merced: Bioelectricity could be more efficient than ethanol to power vehicles
A study by University of California, Merced, Assistant Professor Elliott Campbell and two other researchers suggests that biomass used to generate electricity could be the more efficient solution.

July 6, 2009 at UC Berkeley: Biomass renewables
This procedure, if it can be effectively industrialized, could allow many of today's petrochemical products, including plastics, to instead be made from biomass.

October 6, 2008 at UC Berkeley: Next-Generation Fuels
The Energy Biosciences Institute (EBI) is a research and development organization that harnesses advanced knowledge in biology, the physical sciences, engineering, and environmental and social sciences to devise viable solutions to global energy challenges and reduce the impact of fossil fuels to global warming.

The institute he heads has a lot on its research plate: Which crops should be grown for biofuels? How would their large-scale cultivation affect land prices, food supply, and food prices? What's their impact on soils, waterways, the air, and nearby food crops? Under what conditions would farmers choose to grow biofuel crops? When all the energy involved in their production is accounted for, is there a net gain?

April 21, 2008 at UC Davis: Energy from Table Scraps
Tons of leftovers from the Bay Area's top restaurants were placed on this conveyor belt. When the material fills these tanks, the gas production process begins.

January 14, 2008 at UC Riverside: Waste-to-Fuels Research Laboratory Integrated Systems Prototype (LISP) is capable of continuously converting any carbon-based material. From grass clippings to car tires to polyurethane form into very clean diesel fuel while creating no pollution and generating excess steam for electric power.

January 26, 2008 at UC Berkeley: Ethanol can replace gasoline with significant energy savings, comparable impact on greenhouse gases.

The goal of the 4-H Science, Engineering, and Technology (SET) Initiative is to address America's critical need for more scientists and engineers by engaging 150,000 youth by 2013. 4-H SET activities and projects combine non-formal education with hands-on, inquiry-based learning in a positive youth development context to engage youth in improving their SET knowledge, skills and abilities. 4-H SET activities and projects combine the strengths of 4-H Youth Development non-formal experiential-based delivery modes and strong youth-adult partnerships to address SET content as defined by the National Science Education Standards.

California 4-H SET Leadership Team