Birgitte Ahring
Birgitte Ahring, a world-renowned microbiologist, is director of the Bioproducts, Sciences, and Engineering Laboratory (BSEL) at WSU Tri-Cities. She helped pioneer the use of anaerobic bacteria, which uses substances other than oxygen to metabolize hard-to-handle industrial and hazardous wastes. The anaerobic process has the added advantage of producing methane and ethanol, which can generate electricity, and thermofilic digested sewage sludge, an agricultural fertilizer.
Dr. Ahring brings scientific talent and an established track record for transformational research that has led to demonstration projects in Oregon and Denmark. Her diverse professional background includes public and private partnerships, academic and industrial collaboration, high-level research, and a passion for educating others. Fluent in English, French, German, and her native Danish, Dr. Ahring has traveled the world, overseeing waste management projects for the United Nations.
Contact Info
E-mail: bka@wsu.edu