Environment and Sustainability: Jaime Thissen, SPI Program

My name is Jaime Thissen. I am originally from the Minnesota prairie and enjoy being outside. Like some of the other students, I am also a fan of classic video-games and the Dragonball sagas. I also enjoy participating in and attending research conferences.

My research interests are primarily in environmental science and sustainability. I am particularly interested in interdisciplinary aspects of these two fields. My prior coursework has also focused on alternative energy including wind, solar, geothermal and hydrogen fuel cells. I’ve also been involved in the University of Minnesota Solar Vehicle Project, which designs, builds and races solar cars.

Some of the prior research experience I have involves international environmental work. I have also been involved in sustainable forestry and alternative energy projects. Over the last year, I have also been involved in engineering research on essential oil production for the Dolakha District of Nepal.

I have a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Management from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, where I also participated in the McNair Scholars program. Over the last few years, I have been transitioning towards more engineering-based academia. I am currently completing a Master of Science in Bioproducts Biosystems Science and Engineering Management with a graduate minor in Sustainable Agriculture at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. My thesis compares various lignocellulosic biofuels and selected sustainable qualities. 

This summer I will be continuing research on a project developed at the Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department tracking data for comparisons in best management practices (BMPs) in selected regions using the Matlab program. My interest in this particular topic stems from a desire to develop meaningful sustainable applications. Currently, we are reviewing the specific programming code in an attempt to identify and flush out errors. I have also been informed that this program is intended for use beyond our department, namely stakeholders. Therefore, I anticipate working on a tutorial instructing on the use of this program.

This project is of particular use because it will enhance data collection methodology for analysis. I anticipate this analyzed information can be used in policy and decision-making for relevant stakeholders, especially rural landowners. I think that having data for different scenarios will be significant in adopting and justifying any particular BMP.

The primary goal I have with the SPI course is to further develop my writing skills. In particular, I would like to improve my skill set in terms of summarizing abstracts. I also would like to refresh and improve my technical writing which is crucial in communicating ideas in my field.