Lean and green

Pitt pushes technology in regional conference

By: Madison Dennis

Posted: 11/19/09

"Going green" doesn't exactly bring to mind images of wide-format printers or woodworking technology. However, Pittsburg State University played host to the annual Four-State Regional Technology Conference, and green technology was the focal point of the convention.
On Nov. 12-13, the Four-State Regional Technology Conference welcomed exhibitors, educators and businesses from the surrounding area to the Kansas Technology Center for their 67th gathering. The theme, in keeping with the times, was "Sustainability Through Lean and Green Technology."
The conference hosted 15 exhibitors from the Four-State Area, ranging from community colleges to print companies to publishers. As a kick-off event, Pitsco, an innovative education tool supplier, sponsored "Battlebots at Gorilla Ridge." Attendees were invited to maneuver small CO2-powered robots, built by students, through "Gorilla Ridge," a series of two racetracks. The top eight times then faced off to become eligible for prizes provided by Pitsco.
For informational and amusement purposes, other departments hosted competitions and entertainment to draw attention to their sectors. The Fixture Factory invited participants to assemble their own set of gadgets from jigs and fixtures. Tool Time incorporated new tools available as teaching aids in technology classrooms with the popular sitcom "Home Improvement." Senior Collin Sutter got a chance to contribute to this event, playing the role of star Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor. He also attended several of the sessions close to his major, Career and Technical Education.
"I attended the Intro to Woodworking Building Standards class," said Sutter. "My area of study being this, it was spot on to what I am going into. It was good for me to relate it and implement it."
The idea of going green was incorporated into all subject matter, with the intention of educating attendees on how to cut waste and use environmentally friendly techniques into daily business. Because of the economy, most companies are operating on tight budgets. This means that going green must first become practical before it is widely adopted. Educators were encouraged to adopt green technology into their curricula to teach future workers how to make less of a negative impact on the environment.
Multiple presentations concentrated on simple ways for educators to cut back on unnecessary materials, thus doing a small part to become more environment-conscious. Kylie Westervelt, an instructional support consultant for PSU, presented Technology Tricks, Tips and Timesavers for Going Green. She illustrated easy ways to cope with the push for a paperless classroom, such as submitting assignments electronically and posting grades online.
Others were more concerned with sparing the wood before it becomes paper, with topics such as Conservations of Solid Lumber Harvesting and Lumber Grading, a presentation in the Wood Manufacturing Technology department. Automotive Technologies attended BioFuel Technology, a presentation on how liquid fuels derived from organic material are processed, and outlined their pros and cons.
In addition to various green presentations, departments also gave presentations to keep the attendees on top of their field. With all technology fields, new information and techniques constantly replace the old, making it important for workers in this area of business to stay updated.
At the end of the conference on Friday afternoon, participants were treated to a banquet, with still more prizes and awards. Keynote speakers wrapped up the conference with another real-world mention of green technology: Greensburg, a town that was destroyed by a tornado in 2007. It was the first city in the nation to be deliberately built as a green town with green technology.