Purdue News

April 7, 2000 Purdue develops programs to promote wood products education WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – A summer course for high school educators and an upgraded wood products manufacturing curriculum are part of Purdue University's efforts to increase public awareness of the importance of wood. "Wood products are an integral part of Indiana's economy," said Dan Cassens, professor and specialist in hardwood forest products and industry education. "In 1997, about 9 percent of Indiana's population was employed in the forest products industry. We want to provide an opportunity for people to learn more about all aspects of this industry." Because of increased interest in wood products manufacturing, Purdue will offer a summer course for high school teachers from June 5 to June 9. The class will cover topics ranging from the basic physical and mechanical properties of wood to wood consumption and availability. Those enrolled in the course will work with sawmills and will travel to several wood products manufacturing plants in southern Indiana. Teachers who complete the course will receive three graduate-level college credits. "One of the best places to begin increasing awareness and interest in the industry is on the high school level," Cassens said. "If educators are able to spark an interest in wood products manufacturing before students reach college, it really opens up a door of opportunity for our department." The wood products major is a joint effort of the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources and the School of Technology. Students majoring in wood product manufacturing technology take classes from both departments so that they will understand the industry both in terms of forest knowledge and manufacturing applications. "One of the reasons we revised the curriculum was to appeal to a wider audience," Cassens said. "The new curriculum requires students to take a nearly equal number of credits in both forestry and natural resources and in technology. The curriculum also allows students to take an equal amount of courses in an area of specialization of their choice." For more information about either the summer course for high school teachers or the Purdue curriculum in wood products manufacturing technology, contact Cassens at (765) 494-3644, or by e-mail at dcassens@fnr.purdue.edu. Source: Dan Cassens, (765) 494-3644, dcassens@fnr.purdue.edu Writer: Samantha Cain, (765) 494-8402, news_students@aes.purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page