Fueling Bioenegy Education in Kentucky Classrooms
The Center for Renewable and Alternative Fuel Technologies (CRAFT), in partnership with the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and Eastern Kentucky University's Office of Regional Stewardship, is looking to get Kentucky children excited about bioenergy. CRAFT's BioEnergy Activity Module (BEAM) Initiative, launched in June and funded by ARC, intends to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and research technicians needed to develop a thriving biofuels industry.
The BEAM Initiative provides free supplies and lesson plans for four bioenergy-related classroom activities to Kentucky teachers within the ARC service counties. Activities include exploring ethanol production from various feedstocks to creating plastics from bio-renewable resources and are targeted for middle and high school students, but can be modified for elementary students. The kits contain enough supplies for up to 90 students for each activity.
To date 75 BEAM kits have been requested, and it is estimated that up to 7,500 Kentucky students will participate in at least one of the classroom activities included in the kit. "Students will begin to understand technologies that are changing the way we live. The BEAM kit activities will help students to understand the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources," says CRAFT research assistant Gary Selby who helped develop several of the BEAM activities.
The BEAM Initiative has been coordinated with the assistant of educational extension agents within EKU's Office of Regional Stewardship who provide support to school districts within the university's 22-county service region. "The BEAM initiative has demonstrated the CRAFT's Center and EKU's commitment to Regional Stewardship. All the Education Extension Agent's school contacts were very appreciative of the BEAM kits that the Center for Renewable and Alternative Fuel Technologies provided," shared Terry Wilson, coordinator of the EKU educational extension agents. In addition, the Kentucky Branch of NEED (National Energy Education Development) has promoted the concept in ARC counties outside of EKU's service area.
The initiative's warm response from Kentucky educators can be attributed to the targeted nature of the project. According to Brad Barnett, CRAFT's program coordinator, "Kentucky educators are really interested in providing bioenergy curriculum in their classrooms, but budgets for supplies and activities are tight. Our BEAM kits are intended to provide teachers the resources necessary to introduce students to this new and exciting field that will have a major impact on Kentucky's economy. In the future we hope to provide teacher training workshops and demonstrations so that the kits can have an even greater impact."
Kentucky teachers located within the ARC counties who would like to request a free BEAM kit can do so by visiting CRAFT's website: www.craft.eku.edu or by contacting craft@eku.edu.
Contact Information
Brad Barnett
brad.barnett@eku.edu
622-7316
Published on August 13, 2011