VIRGINIA
TECH WOOD SCIENCE
PROFESSOR PARTNERS
WITH TAIWAN UNIVERSITY
BLACKSBURG, Nov. 21,
2002 - Fred Kamke,
wood science professor
at Virginia Tech,
recently visited Tsai-Yung
Chen, professor in
the forestry department
of the National Chung
Hsing University (NCHU)
in Taiwan, to foster
cooperative research
and instructional
programs in the area
of natural resources.
Developing strong
relationships with
international universities
has been an ongoing
priority at Virginia
Tech. The Memorandum
of Understanding signed
between Virginia Tech's
Wood Science and Forest
Products Department
in the College of
Natural Resources
and the Taiwan university
furthers such international
ties.
Kamke
began his Far East
tour in Beijing China,
where he presented
"WBCSim: a Web-based
Problem Solving Environment
(PSE)" at the International
Academy of Wood Science
Annual Meeting. Essentially,
Kamke introduced a
new online process
simulation system
for researchers, students,
and process engineers
interested in process
improvement or new
product development
for the wood-based
composites industry.
His work has been
a collaboration with
faculty in the Department
of Computer Science
at Virginia Tech.
A
PSE consists of an
integrated set of
computing tools that
support users in the
solution of problems.
PSEs allow users to
define and modify
problems, choose solution
strategies, interact
with and manage appropriate
hardware and software
resources, visualize
and analyze results,
and record and coordinate
extended problems
solving tasks. The
use of a Web-based
PSE allows instant
access to this technology
from all over the
world.
After the Beijing
presentation, Kamke
gave an invited presentation
at NCHU in Taiwan,
where he presented
a basic overview of
Virginia Tech's academic
structure as well
as made suggestions
to NCHU how it might
organize its university.
Kamke highlighted
some of Virginia Tech's
wood science research
programs in hopes
of developing an international
collaboration between
the two schools. Marshall
Shiau, who earned
his Ph.D. from Virginia
Tech's wood science
department, translated
the presentation for
over 50 students and
faculty.
With
52 students enrolled
in the wood science
program at Virginia
Tech and 40 students
enrolled at the NCHU,
Kamke found the Taiwan
program to be quite
similar to Virginia
Tech's. "NCHU has
a similar student
body and organizational
structure as Virginia
Tech, same classes,
a research focus,
and a major natural
resources program,
with one exception,"
Kamke points out.
"Their experimental
forest is much bigger
than ours. It is set
up to handle tourism
including lodging
and accommodations
within the forest.
They even grow and
sell coffee from their
coffee tree plantation,"
notes Kamke.
Kamke
says, "I was impressed
with the university's
facilities, but their
wood science program
in the department
of forestry has some
catching up to do.
They don't have the
financial resources
to modernize the equipment,
but their experimental
forest is a tremendous
sight to see."
Kamke
directs Virginia Tech's
Sustainable Engineered
Materials Institute.
The institute is comprised
of a group of faculty,
staff, and students
focused on developing
alternative forest
management practices
consistent with the
future demand for
wood products. The
institute also develops
new wood-based composite
products for industries
and government organizations
in Virginia, the nation,
and the world.
Kamke
is also director of
Virginia Tech's Wood-Based
Composites Center,
an industry-university
cooperative program
that was established
to serve the instructional
and research needs
of the wood-based
composites industry.
The center contains
12 member companies,
four universities
including Virginia
Tech, Oregon State
University, Mississippi
State University,
and the University
of Minnesota, as well
as seven graduate
fellows, and 16 undergraduate
scholars. The Wood-Based
Composite Center provides
financial support
to students from all
four universities.
Last year the center
awarded $24,000 in
scholarships to undergraduate
students.
