BCT hosts visit from Martha’s Vineyard Youth Leadership Initiative

by Alexander Schreyer Comment Closed
September 26 - A team of Martha's Vineyard High School Students visited UMASS today to explore Sustainable Development best practices on the campus.  Dr. David Damery, Director of the Building and Construction Technology program spoke with the group on sustainable building technologies. The group also visited the UMASS Permaculture garden and met with Green Building Masters alum Ryan Harb. The group also visited with Prof. John Gerber of Sustainable Agriculture and the Isenberg School.  For more info click here....
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Damery Presents at Harvard Graduate School of Design Colloquium

by Alexander Schreyer Comment Closed
Friday - Sept. 9, 2011 - Cambridge, MA  - Assoc. Professor and Director of our Building and Construction Technology Program, Dr. David Damery, was invited to speak on the topic "Sustainable Harvest and Processing of Massachusetts Native Woods" as part of the Harvard GSD Materials Systems: Sources, Cycles, Design Colloquium.  The Colloquium featured International, and local speakers from Harvard and MIT from their design disciplines of Architecture and Landscape Architecture.  "It was good to strengthen the educational, both teaching and research ties, between UMASS-Amherst, Harvard and MIT" said Damery.  Link:  http://www.gsd.harvard.edu/#/events/material-systems-sources-cycles-design.html...
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Dave Damery interviewed by WWLP on environmental impact of growing fuel

by Alexander Schreyer Comment Closed
BCT Program Director Dave Damery was recently interviewed by Springfield's WWLP TV station on the environmental impact of growing fuel. As we turn away from fossil fuels and towards biofuels more land will be needed to grow the biomass. How will this impact land use? Especially here in Massachusetts. Dr. David Damery, director of building materials and wood technology and associate professor at UMass-Amherst explains. Environmental impact of growing fuel: wwlp.com...
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WFCR focus on biomass features Dave Damery

by Alexander Schreyer Comment Closed
As featured on WFCR: AMHERST, MA (wfcr) - Who isn't in search of clean, cheap energy? Policy makers, residents and investors around the region are, and they are taking a close look at biomass energy, that is, burning low-grade wood or other plant materials for high-tech electricity generation. There are three large-scale biomass plants proposed for western Massachusetts, in Springfield, Greenfield, and Russell. Together they could provide electricity for as many as 135,000 homes, help the state meet goals for renewable energy, and create jobs. But they could also change the character of the region's woodlands, send numerous trucks through residential neighborhoods and emit toxins into the air. And there is little consensus on just how "renewable" the resource is. These are some of the questions about biomass we'll explore in this half hour of Focus Western New England. Follow this link to listen to the entire recording....
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FPS student group wins award

by Alexander Schreyer Comment Closed
Quebec City, Quebec, Canada -   The University of Massachusetts Forest Products Society Student Chapter has received an Outstanding Student Performance Award that was presented at the 59th International Convention – Quebec, Canada at the Official Luncheon held on Monday, June 20th. Dave Damery, faculty liaison, accepted the award, commemorated by a handsome plaque (wood of course!).  Section officers named on the plaque are  Michael Breor, Walter Pawlowski, Don Smith and Jean Augustin.  The student chapter was one of just 4 chapters nationwide to receive an award. Performance criteria for the award included: membership, meetings, educational meetings, and additional activities including public service. The BMATWT student chapter built and now maintains the much-used benches and planters at the entrance to Holdsworth.  They participated in several recruiting activities for the department including the NRE College Day, Undeclared Majors Fair, and others....
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