LAKEWOOD, CO, May 23, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Luc Moens, Ph.D., Senior Scientist for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), was recently named a VIP Member of Worldwide Who's Who. This special distinction honors individuals who have shown exceptional commitment to achieving personal and professional success.

In 1989, Dr. Moens was hired at NREL to develop synthetic organic chemistry and electrochemistry relating to the chemical conversion of renewable lignocellulosic biomass into fuels, chemicals and materials. Serving this government organization for the past 23 years, he has gained experience in the chemistry of biomass, and continues to focus on the synthesis of fuels and biobased materials. While his interest lies in the thermochemical and biochemical science of lignocellulosic biomass conversion such as wood, grasses, and agricultural by-products, his creativity is now driving him toward the exploration of other renewable carbon feedstocks such as microbial metabolites and algae. He also works closely with researchers at NREL who are interested in the development and engine testing of biofuels and their blends. Furthermore, he has used his chemical expertise to support the activities at NREL in the area of solar thermal energy research, in particular the search for new materials that can serve as heat transfer fluids and thermal storage media to capture solar heat for power production.

Dr. Moens earned a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1987 and is a member of the American Chemical Society. He is also an active member in Toastmasters International, both as a trainee in public speaking and leadership development as a Public Relations Officer at the club and district level. Most importantly, he is currently honing his skills as a science communicator, and is looking forward to applying his scientific and public speaking skills toward the scientific education of wider, non-scientific audiences.

In 1999, he was given the Presidential Green Chemistry Award by the American Chemical Society. He attributes his success to his creativity and the past support of excellent mentors. Dr. Moens has close collaborations with unversities but is interested in establishing collaborations with industrial partners to expand his research vision beyond his laboratory.

For more information about NREL, visit http://www.nrel.gov/biomass/national_bioenergy.html.

About Worldwide Who's Who
With over 500,000 members representing every major industry, Worldwide Who's Who is a powerful networking resource that enables professionals to outshine their competition, in part through effective branding and marketing. Worldwide Who's Who employs similar public relations techniques to those utilized by Fortune 500 companies, making them cost-effective for members who seek to take advantage of its career enhancement and business advancement services.

Worldwide Who's Who membership provides individuals with a valuable third-party endorsement of their accomplishments, and gives them the tools needed to brand themselves and their businesses effectively. In addition to publishing biographies in print and electronic form, it offers an online networking platform where members can establish new professional relationships.

For more information, please visit http://www.worldwidewhoswho.com.

Contact:
Ellen Campbell
Director, Media Relations
[email protected]

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