CORVALLIS - Researchers and students at Oregon State University will display a wide range of projects that involve sustainable technology and engineering at the second annual Sustainable Engineering Expo on Wednesday, May 4.

Featured projects will include production of "green" clean-burning biodiesel fuel, wind power generation, fuel cells powered by landfill emissions, harnessing energy from ocean waves, and other OSU-based sustainable technology research.

The event is free and open to the public, and will be from 1-5 p.m. at the Memorial Union Leadership Room on the OSU campus.

"The objective is to both recognize existing sustainable engineering projects and expertise on our campus, and to explore opportunities for OSU to contribute in the field," said Jerry Orlando of the OSU Center for Water and Environmental Sustainability, a co-sponsor of the event along with the College of Engineering.

Representatives from the City of Corvallis, Hewlett-Packard, CH2M HILL, and others have been invited to learn about OSU's growing work in sustainable engineering and technology.

The keynote speaker at 1:15 p.m. will be Walt Ratterman of Green Empowerment (www.greenempowerment.org), an international organization that promotes community-based renewable energy, potable water delivery and related watershed restoration projects to generate social and environmental progress.

Ken Williamson, head of the OSU Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, said OSU is uniquely positioned to become a national leader in sustainable engineering.

"We have world-class programs in agriculture, oceanography, engineering, forestry, and other fields," Williamson said. "We're located in the heart of the environmentally-aware Pacific Northwest, and our reputation for highly collaborative research is gaining national attention. OSU has the opportunity to become the go-to place for people interested in studying sustainability and sustainable engineering."

Source: 

Jerry Orlando, 541-737-5736

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