Progress 09/01/11 to 08/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: TC3 organized and presented a conference,"Bio Energy Opportunities in Upstate NY" at TC3's main campus in Dryden NY. The conference was geared towards educators from Bio-Energy programs at post secondary schools, high school teachers, not-for-profit organizations, industry leaders, local farmers, government entities, workforce investment boards, consumers, financial institutions and related bioenergy businesses. The conference brought together extended stakeholders to educate consumers and general audiences. Conferees became part of a network of key players who can help create a plan for bioenergy technology training. They learned about the state of current programs and career pathways in bioenergy programs and were able to network and will work to create articulation agreements with programs at appropriate universities. The conference brought together 55 stakeholders and current innovators in bioenergy/agri-technology fields to work to bridge the gaps and to share their innovations. Through forums/discussions attendants participated in brainstorming opportunities for workforce and innovative ag-entrepreneurial models and current best practices. With stakeholders from such a wide variety of fields, attendants were able to see that the bioenergy industry is not one dimensional. For this industry to grow itself, it will take a variety of players and skillsets to make bioenergy successful. The 2 day conference was planned, coordinated, and facilitated by the program coordinator- marketing, PR, announcements, invitation to speakers, rsvps. The program coordinator facilitated pre- and post conference surveys/evaluations. Key TC3 stakeholders met to discuss the outcomes for possible curriculum development.Post-conference evaluations are posted to TC3 website. -Conducted Pre surveys, post surveys, best practices- posted them to all participants and to public campus website, posted presentations (PPTs) to website http://www.tc3.edu/about_tc3/sustainability_bioenergy.asp -Held conference with the following presenters and activities - http://www.tc3.edu/docs/about_TC3/TC3Bioenergy_42712_PresenterBios.pd f -Served on board to create conference and attended 1 year of USDA TIOGA SET and shared knowledge -audio or video products;(video recordings of conference- can be edited with more funding) -curricula;(discussed and modules will be added to courses by faculty and instructors) -databases;(database of conference attendants and presenters- network) -models;(conference model can be used for possible future annual conference event) -networks and/or collaborations fostered (network of participants) -website (http://www.tc3.edu/about_tc3/sustainability_bioenergy.asp with post conference results posted to TC3 website) -information, skills, and technology for individuals, communities, and programs;(community members learned about current state of Bioenergy) or students graduated in agricultural sciences.(promote students to connect and transfer to/with programs at 4 year colleges) -Dissemination All surveys results from the conference, powerpoints of presentations are available at http://www.tc3.edu/about_tc3/sustainability_bioenergy.asp PARTICIPANTS: Panel 1 : What is the state of BioEnergy Definitions and Current Trends Tim Volk, SUNY ESF Greg Albrecht, NYS Agriculture and Markets Matt McArdle, NYS BioMass Energy Alliance, MESA Reduction Engineering & Processing, Inc. Nathan Russell, NYSERDA, Research and Development Panel 2: Current Education Programs in BioEnergy Tiffany Fleming, Boyce Thompson Institute John Kowal, SUNY Cobleskill Tim Volk, SUNY ESF Corinne Rutzke, Cornell University Panel 3: Development and Policy for a BioEnergy Future Ellen Burkhard, New York State Energy Research & Development Association Gary Pereira, Business Programs Specialist at USDA Rural Development Agency State Office Tom Wilber & Mike Fuller, Three Rivers Development Corporation Gregg McConnell, Business Consultant, Farm Credit East, ACA Panel 4 : On the Ground Running - Current Programs Break Out Brett Chedzoy, Senior Resource Educator, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Schuyler County Bill Overbaugh, President of Erhart Gas & Propane McKenzie Jones‐Rounds, Ithaca Biodiesel Hillary Mayton, Beneterra Doreen Barker, Broome BioMass Elizabeth Keokosky, Danby Land Bank Guillermo Metz, Green Building & Renewable Energy Program Coordinator, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County TARGET AUDIENCES: The conference was geared towards educators from Bio-Energy programs at post secondary schools, high school teachers, not-for-profit organizations, industry leaders, local farmers, government entities, workforce investment boards, consumers, financial institutions and related bio energy businesses. The conference brought together extended stakeholders to educate consumers and general audiences. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Findings- The conference was held and information disbursed. We found that the need for more funding and research would help to promote this industry to the next step. Many of the steps are in place but in their infancy. TC3, as a 2 year institution, does not currently have enough resources nor the departments to focus solely on BioEnergy, but it can be promoted within several of the existing areas of Envi Science, BioTechnology, Entrepreneurshsip, and in the Green Energy Technology Program of Continuing Education. The ACRES consortium is a group which will have to be grown over time- and could become a conference event bringing together key stakeholders on a regular or bi/annual basis. The curriculum at each of the universities is already in place and TC3 will work to align with these 4 year programs and create articulation agreements. We did not get a turnout of high school teachers as we had expected and hoped for but we did present a workshop in making Biodiesel at TC3 CollegeNow Professional Development Conference to engage more science teachers.
Impacts
Outcomes / Impacts There is better general knowledge for public and participants about the viability of BioEnergy in our region The conference helped create interest in the fields of BioEnergy as academic options and professors were able to connect and create new relationships with colleges and colleagues. The conference renewed a vision for agriculture and BioEnergy as viable economic options for local rural lands and for students. The survey results show that there is a need for further development for Bioenergy in the region. Participants- professors, students, and community gained knowledge learned about the existing programs, potential for BIOENERGY in the upstate NY region- see presentations. Participants became part of a larger network of BIOENERGY advocates, see surveys. TC3 faculty will promote the area of Bioenergy within their disciplines and continue to create bridging curricula to promote students to move into the areas of Bioenergy discussed at the conference. The connections made at the conference between high school, 2 year ,and 4 year programming will help to further the knowledge base. Victoria Zepelin College Now- will connect high school teachers with trainings at Cornell and other surrounding universities.. Jake Jacobs will teach the production of BioDieselas part of his courses and continue to maintain relationships with those in the community who will allow his classes to come for field visits and share opportunities as they arise ayt their sites. Kelly Wessel will work to create articulation agreements between his Environmental Science department at TC3 and SUNY Cobelskills and ESF's 4 year programs in BioEnergy. Butch Westlake is better informed and able to promote possible BioEnergy entrepreneurship opportunities to his students in his Entrepreneurship courses. In Shik Lee will present more current information through courses in Continuing Education for the general public. TC3 learned that there is a great need for promotion of BioEnergy as a possible field for students to pursue, and which fields are viable for varying technologies. The survey results informed that this conference was useful to most in the areas of networking and disseminating current information and knowledge about the field of Bioenergy opportunities in our upstate NY region. TC3 currently does not currently have a staff member to continue this work but will look to procure funding to help maintain the momentum for this work of creating a bioenergy consortium in this region.
Publications
- Barker, Doreen; 2012; NY Poised for a Bioenergy Future; Lancaster Farming, 2012. Chambala, Bryan; 2012; TC3 to Host Bioenergy Conference; TC3 news website 2012
|