agriculture-based renewable energy Professional Development Workshop July 7–10, 2015 — Iowa State University Registration information at agenergyia.org/workshop Applications are due June 5, 2015. • Workshop intended for high school and community college agriculture, science, and industrial technology teachers with an interest or background in renewable energy. • Lodging and meals are provided, plus $400 stipend and $250 for travel costs covered. • Learn from university researchers with state-of-the art laboratory equipment. • Get hands-on experience in the lab and in the field. • Network with colleagues from throughout the nation. • Gain experience with learning modules that can be brought directly into the classroom. • Obtain graduate credit or license renewal credit. More information on the back Each year, hundreds of thousands of new jobs are created in the renewable energy field. Because energy production often occurs in rural areas, it is important to understand how energy and agriculture impact each other. However, because the field is changing so rapidly, it can be difficult to keep up to the speed of science. Therefore, this workshop aims to link research on these topics to high school and community college teachers. • Biogas/Anaerobic Digestion: Learn about the basics of anaerobic digestion and the potential uses on different scales. Learn how to make a small biogas digester for use as a class project or activity. • Wind: Learn about different scales of wind energy technology. Visits a large wind energy power plant. Learn how to make small wind turbines to use for a class project or class activity. • Biofuels: Visit a research farm where different crops such as switchgrass, miscanthus, and trees are being grown for biofuels. Visit a processing facility to learn how grass and trees are converted to liquid fuel. Learn how to make biodiesel and about a student-based project based on converting waste vegetable oil to biodiesel. • Solar: Learn about using solar water pumping as a method to teach electrical energy concepts including Ohm’s Law and power output. Use tools to measure voltage, current, and power potential of solar modules. • Learning Module Training: Learn how to use learning modules on topics in sustainable energy. • Also included in the workshop will be materials, resources, and other information to help integrate new knowledge into the classroom. Because this year’s workshop will be a regional one, woven into the workshop will be opportunities to share your experiences of teaching about sustainable energy with colleagues from throughout the Midwest. Registration information is available at agenergyia.org/workshop/ Applications are due June 5, 2015. This professional development workshop is a collaboration between Iowa State University, the University of Arkansas, and the Advanced Technology Environmental and Energy Center (ATEEC) and is sponsored by USDA New Era Rural Technology Grant #2012-38414-19559. For workshop info, contact: Denise Mills Iowa State University [email protected] 952-412-7272 OR Michael Beck Eastern Iowa Community Colleges [email protected] 563-441-4085