Two named to Board of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Posted on May 17, 2013 by

Two North Carolina State University faculty members have been named to the Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources (BANR), a major program unit of the National Research Council.

Dr. Stephen Kelley, professor and head of the Department of Forest Biomaterials in the College of Natural Resources and Dr. Fred Gould, William Neal Reynolds Professor of Entomology in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, were named to the board.

The board is responsible for organizing and overseeing studies on agriculture, forestry, fisheries, wildlife and the use of land, water, and other natural resources. The National Research Council is a private, nonprofit institution that provides expert advice.

Known collectively as the National Academies, the National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering and Institute of Medicine provide information designed to address the most pressing challenges facing the nation and world, help shape sound policies, inform public opinion and advance the pursuit of science, engineering and medicine.

Gould and Kelley join the board as Dr. Julia Kornegay, professor of Horticultural Science in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, leaves it.

Dr. Steve Kelley

About Dr. Steve Kelley

Kelley’s research interests include the sustainable production of energy and materials from biomass and the application of novel analytical tools to biomass. He teaches classes in Wood Chemistry, Wood Adhesives and Composites, and Sustainable Building Materials.In addition to his research and teaching, he has helped develop international partnerships for his department.

Prior to joining NCSU, he spent 13 years at the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) working on biomass conversion technologies. At NREL his responsibilities included technical leadership and innovation in the areas of biomass characterization, production of value-added biobased products and thermal conversion processes, and project management.

Prior to joining NREL, Kelley worked in industry (Eastman Chemical Co. and Bend Research Inc.) for seven years developing new cellulose-based materials and membrane processes.

Dr. Fred Gould

About Dr. Fred Gould

Gould, a member of the National Academy of Sciences, studies the ecology and genetics of insect pests to improve food production and human and environmental health. He has received funding from the National Science Foundation, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the National Institutes of Health, among others, for his work.

Gould has been honored with both N.C. State’s Holladay Medal, the highest honor presented for faculty achievement, and the O. Max Gardner Award, the most significant university wide honor given to faculty by the UNC Board of Governors.

Gould has served on National Academy of Sciences-National Research Council committees to study the environmental effects of the commercialization of genetically modified plants and develop recommendations on genetically modified pest-protected crops. He has also served on Environmental Protection Agency panels on genetically modified crops.

More About BANR

A variety of problems and causes drive work on issues in the fields of agriculture, forestry, fisheries, wildlife, and the use of land, water, and other natural resources . Often conflicts arise between growing demands for food and resources and the impacts of developing and producing those resources on the natural ecosystem. The need to sustain, restore and improve the productivity of agriculture for the economic well-being of the nation can also generate vital questions.

BANF maintains a critical overview of the several fields under its purview so that it is aware of relevant work relating to public policy formulation, research frontiers, technological developments, human resource needs, economic and social trends. The Board is also responsible for planning new studies, conducting oversight on projects carried out by its subsidiary committees, and making an annual appraisal of emerging issues related to food, fiber, fuel and the natural resource base supporting their production.

New Scholarship Will Honor PSE Alumnus C. Allen Sanders

Posted on May 8, 2013 by

The College of Natural Resources at North Carolina State University is honored to announce that C. Allen Sanders has named the NC State Natural Resources Foundation, Inc. in his estate plans. When funded, the C. Allen Sanders Paper Science and Engineering Scholarship Endowment will award merit based scholarships to promising students.

Charles Allen Sanders is a 1985 graduate of NC State’s Paper Science and Engineering program. Allen has been very active in the growth, promotion and success of the paper science industry in the southeast. He started his career with Boise Cascade in DeRidder, LA before moving to Bowater. In 25 years with Bowater, Allen worked in various locations and capacities rising to Vice President – US Operations. He is currently employed with RockTenn, one of North America’s leading producers of corrugated and consumer packaging and recycling solutions.

Merit-based awards will be made from this endowment to an undergraduate student enrolled in paper science and engineering in the College of Natural Resources. Awards will be for one academic year and may be renewed based on specific criteria being met.

About Paper Science and Engineering @ NC State University

Paper Science & Engineering (PSE) is an applied engineering discipline related to chemical and process engineering. Its original purpose was to provide specialized training for chemical-type engineers in the specific science, terminology, technology, and engineering principles related to the production of pulp and paper. The paper industry is one of the largest and most successful chemical process industries in North America. The PSE program in NC State’s College of Natural Resources has an outstanding reputation and graduates from the program enjoy some of the highest salaries and placement rates of all the programs at NC State. The PSE B.S. degree permits students to enter the paper industry and many other related industries.

For over 50 years, graduates from the PSE program have gone on to make significant contributions to the paper industry, other chemical process industries, and many other professional arenas. Alumni include vice-presidents, mill managers, technical managers, research directors, consultants, sales personnel, business owners, professors, teachers, lawyers, doctors, and clergymen.

Seymour Delivers 2013 Borlaug Lecture at NC State

Posted on April 18, 2013 by

On April 16, 2013, Frances Seymour delivered the 2013 Norman E. Borlaug Lecture at the Hunt Library at NC State University. The lecture, cosponsored by the College of Natural Resources and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, was part of a week of festivities celebrating Earth Day. The following is an excerpt from an article in the student newspaper.

The Giving Trees by Liz Moomey, staff writer

FORESTS MATTER TO FOOD SECURITY, GROWING ECONOMIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

Frances Seymour, former director of Center for International Forestry Research, spoke about the external influences on the conditions of forests and their roles in food security snd climate change at Hunt Library Auditorium Tuesday afternoon.

Forests have a significant impact on food security, although there is not a lot of talk about it, Seymour said. “The role of forests and climate regulations is even that much more important,” Seymour said. “You would think that given all of these contributions of forests to food security and to agriculture, more generally, and local landscapes, conserving forests would be an important part of food security policy, but they are not.”

Seymour said misconceptions about forests’ roles in food security often contribute to lack of policy dealing with forestry and regulating demolition of forests. “It serves the interest of some actors to have you believe that forestry protection and food security are incompatible,” Seymour said. “There are two convenient untruths. One is that you have to sacrifice forests to feed the world, and the other poor people are the main cause of deforestation.

Read the complete article in The TechnicianOnline

Learn more about the Annual Borlaug Lecture Series @ NC State University

Hofmann Forest Update Letter from Natural Resources Foundation Board

Posted on March 20, 2013 by secorica

The following letter from the Executive Committee of the Natural Resources Foundation was emailed to College of Natural Resources alumni, friends, students, faculty and staff on March 20, 2013.

Dear Friends of the College of Natural Resources,

Much conflicting information has circulated around a potential sale of the Hofmann Forest, managed by the Natural Resources Foundation for the benefit of North Carolina State University’s College of Natural Resources. We, the Executive Committee of the Natural Resources Foundation Board of Directors, write to clarify our rationale and process to consider a sale.

The Hofmann Forest has a long history in the College of Natural Resources. It has been managed over the years for teaching, research, and more recently, as an income source for the College. Changes in the educational use of the Forest began in the 1950s when the College relocated its educational programs from the Hofmann to our Hill Forest in nearby Durham County. The College’s forestry research programs now occur quite literally all around the world. Only a very small number of today’s CNR students ever visit Hofmann Forest.

While recognizing its unique heritage and values, as a Board, we have focused primarily on the management of the Forest as a critical financial asset for the College. Over the last 10 years, income from the Forest has fluctuated greatly, and over the last few years, it has declined. These declines are evident in the Foundation’s publically available financial reports. Currently, the income from the Forest does not meet the critical needs of the College.

We are also concerned because the forest represents about 90% of the total assets of the Natural Resources Foundation. Most other institutions only hold 10-15% of assets in forestland, and generally this land is dispersed geographically to reduce risks and access multiple wood markets. Cash flow from this Forest, in just one place, is particularly vulnerable to the risks of fire, hurricane, or other catastrophic events and the Forest can only supply wood to one geographic market.

The Natural Resources Foundation has a fiduciary responsibility to use the Forest to best meet the needs of the College and its students. As part of our fiduciary responsibility, we are exploring a potential sale, if price and other conditions that are consistent with the values of the College are met. Considerations that would be part of any sale include preserving the legacy of Doc Hofmann by retaining the Forest name, maintaining access for students and faculty to conduct research, and maintaining a working forest on this site. We are also considering a range of options for managing the Forest differently if we do not find such a buyer.

Recognizing the need to hold the financial details of a potential sale confidential, we have broadly shared information about our actions. Beginning more than a year ago, there have been a variety of public sessions with College faculty, staff and students, and with outside partners to share information and receive feed back about the need to manage the Forest differently, including potentially selling the property. While we are not in a position to share the details of any potential offer at this time, we have set a deadline in late March to receive offers to purchase. The Natural Resources Foundation Board will meet in April to consider these offers and make a decision about how best to move forward, whether this is to negotiate a final sales agreement or to pursue other options.

We believe that the additional endowment support for the College that could result from a sale of the Hofmann Forest would create exciting new opportunities that cannot be achieved in any other way. The additional funds would be used to:

o Attract the best and brightest undergraduate and graduate students by providing additional scholarships;

o Fund new hands-on engaged learning opportunities for students;

o Support new professorships in emerging areas important to our state and the nation;

o Facilitate interdisciplinary research in the areas of sustainability science and policy, forest and watershed management, energy, water and the environment; and

o Continue to support our traditional strengths in forestry, outdoor recreation, and forest products.

We are confident the resulting impact from Doc Hofmann’s legacy would be transformational.

Sincerely,

Brenda Brickhouse, President, NC State Natural Resources Foundation Board
Art Raymond, Board Member
Jim Buzzard, Board Member
Ken Hines, Board Member
David Ashcraft, Board Secretary
Mary Watzin, Dean, NC State University College of Natural Resources

Lupold Establishes Endowment to Honor Mentors

Posted on March 5, 2013 by

Natural Resources’ Dean Mary Watzin with donor, Mac Lupold, on Signing Day

The College of Natural Resources at NC State University is honored to announce the establishment of the Hugh McColl Lupold Mentors Endowment in the College of Natural Resources. The endowment recognizes three mentors, Bill Milliken, Cal Colvin, and Dale Wright, who coached and encouraged Lupold through his working career.

Lupold credits Milliken, Colvin and Wright with strong support throughout his career and established this endowment in recognition of their contributions to forestry and wood products and to his success. “Mac,” as he is commonly referred, is a Forest Products Consultant (Lupold Consulting) in Camden, SC specializing in wood supply, mill audits, sales and marketing.

Lupold is a 1959 alum of the Forestry program at NC State University. While enrolled here, he was a member of 30&3, Blue Key, Golden Chain, student government and president of Sigma Alpha Epsilon.

He was president of the National Particleboard Association, received the College of Natural Resources Distinguished Alumni Award in 2005 and has served on numerous boards of affiliated forestry associations. At NC State he chaired the NC Forestry Foundation, the Wood Products Task Force, the College of Natural Resources’ Achieve! Campaign and other efforts.

Merit-based awards will be made from this endowment to a rising junior in the College of Natural Resources who has demonstrated leadership potential, who is an aspiring entrepreneur, with preference to students interested in wood products manufacturing and other forest products activity. Awards will be for one academic year and may be renewed based on specific criteria being met.