PULLMAN, Wash – Be sure to save the date for Washington State University Extension’s “Research that Works for You” webinars for 2011. These monthly webinars will cover everything from music in the media and organic growing to new developments in the agricultural industry. All webinars begin on their respective dates at 10 a.m., at http://breeze.wsu.edu/research_that_works_for_you/. They are free and open to the public.
February’s webinar will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 2. Andrew Cassey, assistant professor in the School of Economic Sciences, will discuss “Trends in Washington State Exports.” He will focus on assessing market conditions while looking at the data of manufactured exports from Washington State to foreign countries. Cassey will emphasize the relationship between these exports and the overall economy. He will discuss this data while mainly focusing on trends within larger industries such as the aerospace and fruit and vegetable preserves industries.
Other webinar topics for 2011 are:
- “Turf Grass Fertilizers and Fertilizer Practices” presented by turfgrass scientists, Gwen Stanke and Eric Miltner on Wednesday, March 2, will deal with the choices that go into developing a turf grass fertilization program. Stanke and Miltner will discuss the selection and use of a range of fertilizer characteristics including; quick release, slow release, organic, synthetic. They also will discuss fertilization programs that are based on turfgrass use, performance expectations, grass species, weather and climate.
- “Adolescents and Music Media: What Does It Do and What Role Should Parents Have?” presented by Kathleen Rodgers on Wednesday, April 6, will concentrate on today’s technology and its effects on youth. Rodgers will discuss research conducted on music-media, adolescent health and the role parents play. Rodgers also will talk about an emerging interactive web-based music-media literacy program that uses music media to facilitate communication between mothers and daughters on topics including; media messages, gender roles, sexuality and healthy decision-making.
- “Identification of Some Common Washington Weeds” presented by Extension Weed Specialist Tim Miller on Wednesday, May 4, will deal with the invasive, competitive, and persistent plants that interfere with land management objectives. Miller will discuss the identification of some of the most common, but misidentified, weed species in Washington State. He also will present plant characteristics found in early May that can be used to identify these plants.
- “Overview of Biomass Pyrolysis” presented by Manuel Garcia-Perez, on Wednesday, June 1, will focus on biomass pyrolysis reactors and their uses. Biomass pyrolysis, classified as either slow or fast pyrolysis, is used to produce charcoal and also to maximize bio-oil yields. Garcia-Perez will discuss the historical development and potential of pyrolysis technologies for the production of bio-char, advanced fuels and high value chemicals.
- “AgWeatherNet: Weather Monitoring in Washington” presented by Gerrit Hoogenboom, director of AgWeatherNet, on Wednesday, July 6, will focus on the impact and importance of weather monitoring and agriculture in Washington State. AgWeatherNet is a weather monitoring system established by WSU to provide local growers, farmers and others with weather data and weather-based information. Hoogenboom will discuss this innovative system and how it allows for timely and efficient decision making by those in the agricultural industry.
- “Recent Energy Developments, Efforts and Activity in the State of Washington,” presented by Jake Fey, the director of the WSU Energy Extension, on Wednesday, Aug. 3, will focus on policy and programmatic change caused by volatile prices and supplies of energy. Fey also will discuss the relevancy of these developments to all consumers as the ones who are ultimately affected by these changes.
- “Inclusive Acculturation: From Assimilation to Multiculturalism” presented by Marcelo Diversi on Wednesday, Sept. 7, will focus on the science of acculturation in relation to current approaches to cultural relevance and diversity. The idea that equality among ethnic groups is a civil right and a moral edict is still relatively new. In this session Diversi will discuss issues the nation still struggles with including; cultural competency, relevance and diversity.
- “Extracting Valuable Energy, Carbon and Nutrient Resources from Organic Waste” presented by Craig Frear and Chad Kruger on Wednesday, Oct. 12, will focus on the extensive research WSU scientists have conducted on Anaerobic Digestion (AD). Frear and Kruger’s research has evaluated the technical and economic performance of commercially available systems, developed improved AD reactors and commercialized WSU patented nutrient recovery technology. In this session they will discuss the latest results from the WSU Climate Friendly Farming Project’s AD research.
- “Can We Grow More Nutritious Fruits and Vegetables Using Organic Farming Methods?” presented by Preston Andrews on Wednesday, Nov. 2, will concentrate on recent developments in research on organic farming systems. Andrews will present research comparing organic and conventional farming systems and the claims both for and against each. He also will discuss the ways in which more nutritious fruits and vegetables can be grown.
- “School Climate for Transgender Youth,” presented by Jenifer McGuire on Wednesday, Dec. 7, will focus on the results of a study on the transgender youth experience in the school environment. The study found that school harassment due to transgender identity was pervasive and affected students’ feelings of safety. McGuire will discuss the results of the study and the impact schools can have on the transgender youth experience.
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NOTE: Kacie McPartland, WSU CAHNRS MNEC news intern, is the author of this story.