|
AG ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT LOOKS FORWARD TO NEW NAME AND OTHER CHANGES
IN PREPARATION FOR THE FUTURE
AUBURN, Ala.__-- Though freshman and sophomore enrollment in Auburn
University's agricultural engineering program has doubled in the last
two years, the department expects its numbers to rise even more after
it implements a name change to "biosystems engineering."
"There are a lot of potential students whose interests match up
with what we do now who will be attracted to ‘biosystems' engineering,
but don't consider ‘agricultural' engineering," said Clifford
Flood, associate professor of agricultural engineering.
The name change is part of an overall effort to reposition the department
to meet future needs, according to department head Paul Turnquist.
"The word ‘agriculture' is unfortunately perceived by most
of the public as being very narrow," he said. "I like to think
of agricultural engineering as being associated with the 20th century
and biosystems engineering as a contemporary engineering program for
the 21st century, which meets the needs of agriculture, food and natural
resource industries."
The Department of Agricultural Engineering has a unique dual relationship
with the College of Agriculture and the College of Engineering at Auburn.
The department is administered by the College of Agriculture while its
students are enrolled in the College of Engineering, but students are
encouraged to be active in both colleges, Turnquist said. "In some
ways, we've got the best of both worlds," he said.
A graduate from this program is prepared to solve engineering problems
that are associated with the interaction between the physical and biological
worlds.
"We're the engineers with an understanding of agricultural sciences
and new engineering technologies. The biosystems engineer applies engineering
advances to agriculture and related areas," Flood said.
Because the agricultural engineering program is a broad one, students
are prepared for diverse careers which include engineering jobs in biosystems
areas and other engineering areas. Also, graduates have chosen careers
in the military, law, engineering and other types of businesses.
A popular field for past graduates has been environmental and natural
resource issues. A survey of past graduates revealed that 38 percent
are working for waste management companies, with the Alabama Department
of Environmental Management, the Natural Resource Conservation Service
and consulting and engineering firms.
Rachel Grimes, a recent graduate of the department, is working as a
biological/agricultural engineering intern at Walt Disney World's EPCOT
Center in The Land Pavilion, an exhibit that focuses on agricultural
practices with greenhouses using modern techniques like hydroponics.
"I was fascinated with The Land Pavilion when I visited EPCOT several
years ago," she said. "I wanted to come to the Land and get
a chance to see all of this up close and actually work with parts of
it."
Though Grimes works mainly with irrigation and the controlled environment
systems, she is also learning about the Land's use of hydroponics, integrated
pest management, aquaculture and genetic engineering. "These sensors
log data every hour and control the cooling and heating in the greenhouses.
Most of my work is in calibrating, installing and checking the sensors,"
she said.
Another large part of her job is the "Behind the Seeds" guided
greenhouse and lab tour that gives guests the opportunity to learn about
projects going on at the Land.
Grimes' internship is a part of the Walt Disney World College Program
Advanced Internships.
-30-
By:
Anna M. Lee
November 6, 1997
|
