My little project

[sharpdressedscot]

While this is or could be a worthy project, I respectfully suggest that because of the political overtones, it not be persured any further on this forum.

Among other things, we are not supposed to discuss guns or politics.

This isn't politics though...

I wasn't trying to start anything, I was jsut hoping for feedback and maybe a few comments or anything I should change....

[J.B. Simpson]

One of the serious drawbacks to biofuels is their viscosity. BioDiesel as an example will gel at a higher temperature than regular diesel. This makes it's use in colder climates very very limited. The only way to prevent it from gelling (besides heating it) is to "cut" it with regular diesel. In my area most users will have 80-90% diesel with the remainder BioDiesel.

Users of "waste" cooking oil derived BioDiesel have problems with not only gelling but a formation of a hardened like what you will see on a heavily used and seldom cleaned deep fryer. In some areas the "bio" fuels will work, but not in all.

Just my $.02, take it as you will.

[J.B. Simpson]

Another quick $.02.

If/When BioFuels become popular and demand increases for the crops to produce them a shortage of food crops will follow. A farmer who makes very little raising standard grain crops would plant his entire farm into a crop that has a higher value and is easier to raise. It is a tricky road to travel. For every positive aspect there will be a negative that is alrready known or that will rear its ugly head when the time comes.

[James MacMillan]

This isn't politics though...

I wasn't trying to start anything, I was jsut hoping for feedback and maybe a few comments or anything I should change....

I'm sorry to say, but many parts of your above posts have very, very heavy political overtones, which I can not explain because I would then violate the ban on discussing politics.

[Larry124]

This isn't politics though...

I wasn't trying to start anything, I was jsut hoping for feedback and maybe a few comments or anything I should change....

With respect, it is political. Please don't.

[The Wizard of BC]

Let's get off the politics of biofuels and back to the subject of the report.

SharpdressedScot, I assume this project is for a High School level project. If so, I think you need to do some serious work on your presentation.

Your research is sketchy to non-existant. The subject is far wider than what you seem to be discussing. Your explanation of the problem seems to be taken straight from popular press and newspapers. It does not approach the problem from a scientific aspect at all.

For example, if you make a statement that a source of energy is dwindling, state by how much it is dwindling. If you say one fuel source produces more of "X" byproduct, state how much more.
Without reliable facts, statistics, and verifiable experiment results any statement is simply opinion.

Your current statement of research contains no reference to the actual research, or it's results. Again, where are the facts and numbers.

You have not made any conclusions. I know you are still writing this but, you need to have a conclusion and then support that conclusion with data.
If your report is going to support or refute some research data start with the data. Then work backwards to fully state the problem your conclusion is supposed to rectify. If your report is only about a problem and offers no solution then it is simply an Op-Ed (Opinion-Editorial) piece and not a research project.

Finally, your presentation style is far less polished than what you would normally expect of Regional High School level competition. I would suggest you find and read some winning projects from the past years. These will show you the level of scientific reporting that is currently being produced by your peers.

In my opinion what you have produced would be on the level of a grade six science fair. All you need is a three panel display and a paper-mache globe.

As evidence of what I am trying to say please look at how quickly someone can refute, and subvert, the intent of your original report. Anytime a scientific report can be turned into a political squabble it indicates the report is flawed or faulty. Or worse yet, is only opinion, capable of being twisted into some political agenda to support someone else's opinion.

If you would like to discuss this further may I suggest we take this topic to PM's or e-mails. I would be happy to help in anyway I can. I hope I can pass on something I learned in all those years of Engineering School.

[J.B. Simpson]

I believe this is known as the rough draft, or the brainstorming phase. I would guess it is nowhere close to being the final.