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Ag Engineering Department Looks Forward to New Name and Other Changes in Preparation for the Future
AUBURN, Ala. - Though freshman and sophomore enrollment in Auburn University's agricultural engineering program has doubled in the last two years, the department expects its numbers to rise even more after it implements a name change to "biosystems engineering."
"There are a lot of potential students whose interests match up with what we do now who will be attracted to biosystems' engineering, but don't consider ‘agricultural' engineering," said Clifford Flood, associate professor of agricultural engineering. The name change is part of an overall effort to reposition the department to meet future needs, according to department head Paul Turnquist.
"The word ‘agriculture' is unfortunately perceived by most of the public as being very narrow," he said. "I like to think of agricultural engineering as being associated with the 20th century and biosystems engineering as a contemporary engineering program for the 21st century, which meets the needs of agriculture, food and natural resource industries."
The Department of Agricultural Engineering has a unique dual relationship with the College of Agriculture and the College of Engineering at Auburn. The department is administered by the College of Agriculture while its students are enrolled in the College of Engineering, but students are encouraged to be active in both colleges, Turnquist said. "In some ways, we've got the best of both worlds," he said.
A graduate from this program is prepared to solve engineering problems that are associated with the interaction between the physical and biological worlds.
"We're the engineers with an understanding of agricultural sciences and new engineering technologies. The biosystems engineer applies engineering advances to agriculture and related areas," Flood said.
Because the agricultural engineering program is a broad one, students are prepared for diverse careers which include engineering jobs in biosystems areas and other engineering areas. Also, graduates have chosen careers in the military, law, engineering and other types of businesses.
A popular field for past graduates has been environmental and natural resource issues. A survey of past graduates revealed that 38 percent are working for waste management companies, with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, the Natural Resource Conservation Service and consulting and engineering firms.
Rachel Grimes, a recent graduate of the department, is working as a biological/agricultural engineering intern at Walt Disney World's EPCOT Center in The Land Pavilion, an exhibit that focuses on agricultural practices with greenhouses using modern techniques like hydroponics.
"I was fascinated with The Land Pavilion when I visited EPCOT several years ago," she said. "I wanted to come to the Land and get a chance to see all of this up close and actually work with parts of it."
Though Grimes works mainly with irrigation and the controlled environment systems, she is also learning about the Land's use of hydroponics, integrated pest management, aquaculture and genetic engineering. "These sensors log data every hour and control the cooling and heating in the greenhouses. Most of my work is in calibrating, installing and checking the sensors," she said.
Another large part of her job is the "Behind the Seeds" guided greenhouse and lab tour that gives guests the opportunity to learn about projects going on at the Land.
Grimes' internship is a part of the Walt Disney World College Program Advanced Internships.
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News from:
Office of Ag Communications & Marketing
Auburn University College of Agriculture
Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station
3 Comer Hall, Auburn University
Auburn, AL 36849
334-844-4877 (PHONE) 334-844-5892 (FAX)
Contact Jamie Creamer, 334-844-2783 or jcreamer@auburn.edu
by Anna M. Lee
November 6, 1997
