University of Idaho students and faculty who traveled  to Kenya this spring share their stories of seeking ways to make even dirty pockets of water drinkable. Africa story.

In our cover story, Biofuels Boom and Idaho, staff science writer Bill Loftus documents our college’s important and diverse roles as our nation searches for ways to end its addiction to foreign-produced petroleum.

Among our college’s biofuels leaders are

• Jon Van Gerpen, whose nationally acclaimed  biodiesel manufacturing workshops always sell out - workshops story;     
• Matt Morra, whose research may result in greater income for biofuels growers in Idaho and elsewhere - mustard meal story; and
• Jack Brown, whose world-class collection of canola, rapeseed, and mustard germplasm attracts suitors from around the globe - Jack Brown's seed collection story.

At our research center in Parma, Esmaeil Fallahi is finding success with fruit and nut crops to help Idaho growers diversify. And in Sandpoint, Dan Barney’s quest to tame the adored huckleberry is now undergoing tests throughout Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Marlene Fritz shares this important research - see alternative fruits story.

Fritz also writes about Filer High School students partnering with their science teachers and University of Idaho fish researchers at Hagerman to help launch  a new generation of scientists - see Filer High School DNA story.

In our Textile Trends story, Sandra Evenson tells what she learned from her Fulbright trip to India in search of winning ways with textiles, design, and life. See textile trends overview, Sandra Evenson's Fulbright story, alum Lori Wahl's adventures as a designer , or Nicole Thiel's trip to India.

Mary Ann Reese

mreese@uidaho.edu