Alumni Profile

Musician sings the praises of renewable energy

If you could capture Erik Pratt's energy, it just might make a promising source of renewable fuel.

By day, Pratt (B.S. Ecology, '97) is manager of Energy Alley, a program of the non-profit Minnesota Environmental Initiative, but evenings and weekends he leads an equally full life as a musician. He plays piano professionally, studies piano with local jazz artist Nachito Herrera, is a singer at St. Paul's Cathedral, and is an active member of the Twin Cities ballroom dancing scene.

Erik Pratt, manager of Energy Alley, focuses on building relationships with industry and government to promote conservation and the development of renewable fuels.

"I like to be out every night," says Pratt, who began his academic career with a bachelor's degree in piano performance from Westminster Choir College (Princeton, New Jersey). "If for some reason I find myself home for an evening, I get restless and just want to get out and enjoy life."

Erik grew up in New Brighton, Minnesota. From an early age he aspired to a career in music, but in his early 20s his growing awareness of environmental issues led him back to Minnesota and to the College of Biological Sciences as an ecology major. [Coincidentally, Erik's uncle, Douglas Pratt, is professor emeritus of plant biology in the College of Biological Sciences.] At CBS, Erik was particularly influenced by John Tester's course on Minnesota ecology.

"Tester's book, Minnesota's Natural Heritage, strongly resonated with me because I was already used to understanding my interests in terms of heritage, such as musical heritages from around the world and the Scandinavian traditions I grew up with. There are challenges to understanding both cultural heritage and natural heritage in the context of modern life. These challenges interest me very much."

Following CBS, he received an M.S. degree from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, with a focus on energy policy and analysis. "Energy is one of the strongest links between modern life and our natural heritage. The use of energy defines our modern living standard, yet it has a major impact on the environment."

Since 2001, Erik has been manager of Energy Alley, one of five programs of the Minnesota Environmental Initiative (MEI), a non-profit organization dedicated to providing solutions to environmental problems by building partnerships among business, non-profit advocates, and government.

Energy Alley uses MEI's partnership approach to promote development of clean and efficient energy technology in Minnesota. 'Environmental problems are increasingly complex and the solutions are often elusive,' Pratt says. 'The partnership model is the only way to move forward for some problems.'

Erik is currently building a partnership among research institutions, businesses, government, and non-profits to prioritize energy research in Minnesota. The University's new Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Environment, with leadership from Dean Elde'who also serves as an Energy Alley board member'is helping to create the partnership.

"Solutions to our energy issues require new technologies. The University of Minnesota is providing leadership by connecting biotechnology, engineering, ecology and public policy together to develop these solutions." Pratt says.

Erik hopes that some day he can look back and see that his work in energy has had a role in bridging the gap between our natural heritage and our modern lives. That would really be something to sing about.

Peggy Rinard