Robert C. Brown

Ames, Iowa

Robert Brown has, to many, become the face of Iowa’s bioeconomy initiative. It is through his efforts that Iowa State University and the state of Iowa have the opportunity to lead the United States away from its dependence on foreign oil by developing new energy technologies.

He currently serves the university as the Bergles Professor in Thermal Science in Mechanical Engineering, professor of chemical and biological engineering, professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering, director of the Center for Sustainable Environmental Technologies, and director of Iowa State’s Office of Biorenewables Programs. His areas of research interest and expertise include conversion of biorenewable resources into bioenergy and biobased products, combustion, gasification, fast pyrolysis, hydrogen energy, and hydrodynamics and heat transfer in fluidized beds.

Brown has testified before Congress and become a national leader in efforts to explore alternative fuels, including creative alternatives such as switchgrass. He received the Distinguished Iowa Scientist Award in 2006 and is a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. In 1997, Brown received a R&D 100 Award for his work with the off-line carbon-in-ash monitor. He is credited with eight patents.

“Our nation was originally a bioeconomy before switching to a petroleum economy,” Brown has said. “I see good reasons to move back.”

Brown and his wife, Carolyn, have three children: Tristan, Trevor (an ISU senior majoring in biomedical illustration), and Daniel. He is an ISU Alumni Association annual member.