Two University of Missouri-Rolla researchers will discuss how engineering students can learn about alternative energy through student design competitions during the "Greening the Heartland 2004: Beyond Sustainability" conference set for March 10-12 in Columbia, Mo.

Presented by the Missouri Heartland Organizing Group of the U.S. Green Building Council and a number of other USGBC chapters from the region, the conference will include 36 breakout sessions on topics ranging from design and construction to health and social issues.

Dr. Stuart Baur, assistant professor of civil, architectural and environmental engineering at UMR, and Dr. Paul Hirtz, assistant director of the Student Design Competition Center at UMR, will discuss alternative and renewable energy as it relates to UMR’s student teams in their presentation, titled "Solar Education Through Competition."

"UMR has enjoyed great success in the world of student-based solar competitions," Hirtz says. "From our world-champion Solar Car Team to our newest team project, our Solar House Team, students are experiencing first-hand the results of these new philosophies that deal with alternative energy. They will take their current experiences from UMR into their professional careers and build these technologies into our tomorrow."

Baur, one of the founding members of the Missouri Heartland Organizing Group of the USGBC, says their presentation will help "raise awareness and support of these important student activities to professionals in the ‘greening’ community."

The conference will also feature an exhibit hall with up to 60 booths and keynote presentations by Bob Berkebile, principal of BNIM Architects; Amy Liu, author of the Brookings Institute Report "Growth in the Heartland"; Christine Ervin, president and CEO of USGBC; Ray Anderson, founder and chair of Interface; Ambassador Richard Swett; and Dennis Weaver, actor and founder of the Institute of Ecolonomics.