Stephanie Hair '07 and Elizabeth Brushart '07 are putting their environmental science studies to work. As biodiesel project interns for Dickinson 's biodiesel plant, they have been trained to convert used fryer oil into biodiesel fuel.

Matt Steiman, assistant director of the organic farm and biodiesel project supervisor, told the Dickinsonian that “the idea is to improve campus sustainability and to reduce our impact on climate change. The biodiesel produces cleaner-burning fuel than petroleum diesel, which helps reduce our campus's contribution to air quality problems and greenhouse emissions.”

Used fryer oil is collected from local schools and restaurants, and converted fuel is used for the college's diesel machinery, like lawn mowers and farm equipment. The plant currently produces about fifty gallons of biodiesel fuel per week. The fuel conversion's byproduct is glycerol, and the interns have been using their downtime to turn it into soap, which is being used on campus.

Steiman commended Hair and Brushart on the skills they developed during the internship, noting that "with next to no supervision, Steph and Elizabeth carried out the multiple complex tasks neccessary to convert 45 gallons of used cooking oil into crude biodiesel fuel, and they did so in a safe and efficient manner."

As spring arrives on campus, students may notice the smell of French fries when passing lawn mowers. Steiman notes that this is a sign of cleaner air and “renewable fuels in action.”