Source: Larry Erickson, 785-532-4313, lerick@k-state.edu
http://www.k-state.edu/media/mediaguide/bios/lericksonbio.html
News release prepared by: Mary Rankin, 785-532-6715, mrankin@k-state.edu
Thursday, Jan. 3, 2008
K-STATE TO HOST PUBLIC FORUMS ON RENEWABLE ENERGY, FOOD AND SUSTAINABILITY
MANHATTAN -- Energy and environmental professionals will be available for dialogue and discussion on the topics of renewable energy, food and sustainability at two public forums on the Kansas State University campus.
Both forums will start at 7 p.m. and will be Tuesday, Jan. 8, and Wednesday, Jan. 9, in 1052 Rathbone Hall.
The Jan. 8 forum, "Sustainable Communities," will feature three Native American speakers and will open with a native hand drum song performance. The Jan. 9 forum will be a dialogue on policy issues related to sustainability, including energy, water, food and global climate change.
"This is an important time for these topics," said Larry Erickson, chemical engineering professor and director of the Center for Hazardous Substance Research at K-State. "A major goal of the workshop will be to enhance communication and cooperation as we work to build sustainable communities."
The evening forums are a part of a three-day intersession course/workshop, "Renewable Energy, Food and Sustainability," offered Jan. 8-10 and available for graduate, undergraduate and noncredit options.
The workshop will focus on renewable energy and sustainability science, including green engineering and triple-bottom-line policy issues, with application to food processing and manufacturing. Program participants will include faculty from K-State, the University of Kansas and Boise State University, as well as professionals from the Sierra Club, Terracon, Waste Management Upstream, Coca-Cola, Sysco and Sylvatica.
Experts will provide information on understanding global change, indigenous perspectives on sustainability, biofuels, solar and wind energy, and food security. K-State sponsors include the Center for Hazardous Substance Research, department of chemical engineering, Institute for Civic Discourse and Democracy, and Division of Continuing Education, as well as AIB International, the University of Kansas and Kansas Natural Resource Council. Further information on the intersession course/workshop is available at
http://www.dce.k-state.edu/conf/energy