Workshop

The Agriculture-based Renewable Energy Professional Development Workshop will provide 20 community college and high school agriculture and science teachers from the Midwest with the opportunity to learn ways to bring research on ag-based renewable energy technologies to the classroom. This hands-on workshop will be held from June 11‒14, 2012 at Iowa State University in Ames, IA. Lodging and meals are provided, as well as $200 for travel costs and a $200 stipend. Additionally, there will be an option to receive either graduate credits or continuing education credits from Iowa State University.

Participating teachers will have the chance to work with university faculty who research cutting-edge energy technology. Participants will take away not only knowledge and experience, but a wealth of resources, including lesson plans and lab activities that can be used in their classes. Topics will include an introduction to agricultural energy use and production and why it’s important, how to teach about energy, biogas/anaerobic digestion, wind, and biofuels. Throughout the week-long workshop, teachers will also learn how to easily integrate learning modules on sustainable energy into their classrooms. In addition to university research, teachers will visit area businesses to see research being implemented on a larger scale in the private sector.