My little project

[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.

[Jock Scot]

Speaking as a farmer and speaking of the short term I am highly delighted that grain and oil seed prices have risen on the back of biofuels.We are at least making a modest profit again!In the medium and long term,farmers tend think many years ahead,biofuels are going to play an ever bigger part in the world. Thus far, I have never noticed that world politics and food production(now biofuel too)have ever been easy bed fellows.Good luck with your project.

[sharpdressedscot]

Crap, I'm going to be working hard...

also, I can't figure out how to say the conclusion, of course it would be biofuels or I wouldn't be writing this, but wouldnn't it sound redundant?

Research is sketchy?

[Pleater]

If the subject of bio fuels was easy it would not be worth addressing - it is possibly going to be the greatest revolution in agriculture since it stopped being necessary to kill off the livestock when the grass stopped growing.

[Riverkilt]

Whoa! You are a brave lad to toss your report out to the rabble then be open to feedback.

You might wanna check with your school or public library if they carry Rolling Stone Magazine. There have been a number of articles in Rolling Stone on this subject over the past few months.

Ron

[Tommie]

Only one thing to say on this subject.

We can not go on depending on oil as our only resourse for fuel.
Bio-fuels-peanut oil or cow crap,we had better come up with something and something fast or we are heading for disaster.