A&M-Texarkana to offer Forest Products Decarbonization Forum

TEXARKANA, Texas – Texas A&M University-Texarkana will host its first ever Forest Products Decarbonization Forum on Wednesday, April 3, 2024. The event will gather industry professionals, students, and the local community to explore and discuss the critical topic of decarbonization within the forest products industry. The forum is scheduled to take place at 10:00 a.m. in Eagle Hall, located inside the University Center building on the A&M-Texarkana Campus. The event is free and open to the public and will include lunch. Pre-registration by March 28^th is required.

The forum is the brainchild of Dr. Taegeun Kang, Lecturer of Engineering & Director of Forest Products Executive Education at Texas A&M University-Texarkana. Driven by over a decade of experience as an energy leader and consultant in industry decarbonization, Dr. Kang conceived the idea for this forum upon recognizing the significant presence and potential of the forest products industry in the region. "Upon my hiring in September of last year, I immediately looked into the forest products industry in this area and discovered that there are over thirty manufacturing sites for forest products in this region," Dr. Kang stated, highlighting the industry's sizeable impact on the local economy and its potential for job opportunities for students.

The forum aims to address the high carbon intensity characteristic of the forest products industry, a sector known for its energy-intensive processes. "Decarbonization is essential for the long-term sustainability of the forest products industry," Dr. Kang explains, emphasizing the need for the industry to adopt more sustainable practices. Through this event, Dr. Kang hopes to foster an environment where industry professionals can learn about the newest decarbonization technology, and students can gain a deeper understanding of the industry's current carbon emissions situation.

Moreover, the forum is designed to be a platform for networking and collaboration, uniting industry professionals, technology vendors, academics, government officials, and the local community. "Our university is well positioned to facilitate the growth of shared knowledge communities and we are pleased to host this forum on our campus to drive increased efforts in sustainability within the forest products industry,” said Dr. Jennifer Davis, A&M-Texarkana Director of Community Engagement.

Event highlights include:

• Expert speakers and panel discussions on sustainable forestry practices, carbon-neutral manufacturing processes, renewable energy solutions, and circular economy initiatives.
• Networking opportunities with industry leaders, researchers, and sustainability enthusiasts.
• A chance to explore potential collaborations to drive positive change in the forest products sector.

For more information on the Forest Products Decarbonization Forum, please contact Dr. Taegeun Kang, Lecturer of Engineering & Director of Forest Products Executive Education at Texas A&M University-Texarkana at tkang@tamut.edu. Please pre-register for the event at Forest Products Decarbonization Forum, Career Fair and Trade Expo (office.com) or by contacting Dr. Jennifer Davis at jdavis@tamut.edu.