An engineering professor at Iowa State University is winning accolades for his research in biofuels.
Hans van Leeuwen is being named by R&D magazine as Innovator of the Year, what’s considered basically the Oscars for inventors.
Van Leeuwen is being recognized for his use of microscopic fungi to improve the production of biofuels, like ethanol and biodiesel, and for other efforts to protect the environment and improve water quality.
He’s among impressive company. Past award winners include the co-founder of Google, one of the heads of PayPal, the developer of SpaceShipOne and the inventor of the Segway Personal Transporter.