We believe EDUCATION is essential to attaining the appropriate and widespread use of geosynthetics as engineering materials. IGS-NA is dedicated to expanding the use of geosynthetics through education. To achieve this the IGS-NA is actively: training future users of geosynthetics, training geosynthetic educators, and promoting geosynthetics as part of engineering curricula.

To facilitate these educational goals we have two exciting programs:

• Educate the Educators (EtE)
• Educate the Students (EtS)

Educate the Educators | A Geosynthetics Training Program for University Professors
December 2017, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada

We know that many undergraduate engineering programs completely lack geosynthetic instruction, often instructors may not have the knowledge, confidence or materials to effectively teach geosynthetics. In order to address this the IGS-NA offers Educate the Educators (EtE), a 2-day, funded program for University professors. EtE provides specialized, hands-on training and lecture materials to equip attending Professors with the tools they need offer effective geosynthetics course work in their engineering programs. Attending professors receive instruction, course materials (including power point presentations, hand outs and sample binders) and have continued access to the instructors as they develop their own programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Building on the success of EtE Austin, held in 2015, participants will receive training and educational material on the fundamentals of geosynthetics as well as exposure to the state-of-knowledge on geosynthetics in reinforcement and environmental applications. This year approximately 35 Student-Professors will attend our second EtE event, to be held in Kingston, ON in December of 2017.

We are very excited to have four exceptional educators and pioneering researchers as the EtE lead instructors: R. Kerry Rowe (Queen’s University), Richard J. Bathurst (Royal Military College of Canada) Richard Brachman (Queens University) and Jorge Zornberg (University of Texas Austin).

Educate the Students | A Guest Lecture Series for University Students
2017-18 School Year, on location as arranged

Educate the Educators is only part of the long-term strategy to train “future users” of geosynthetics. We also want to directly Educate the Students (EtS) by offer engaging and effective geosynthetic lectures which will immediately impact engineers-in-training. Lectures will be tailored to need of each program, and topics may range from fundamental to sophisticated. Particular focus will be made on large engineering schools. IGS-NA will support the development of the content and the costs associated with the transportation of the professors to/from the guest lectures.

Why are we doing this again….?

In 2015 we hosted 45 EtE Student-Professors in August of 2016 we surveyed those professors, this is what we found…

40% of 2015 EtE Attendees’ University Programs contained NO Geosynthetic Content what so ever of those surveyed, 87% of those professors responded with a plan to incorporate the EtE programming at their institution.

• 37.5% added geosynthetics content in the 2015-16 school year
• 25 % added geosynthetics content in the 16-17 school year
• 25 % were developing programs to be added in the 2017-18 school year.

 
Of those …

• 46% added a 50 minute introduction to geosynthetics lecture
• 69% added EtE content where appropriate in the context of existing course work

 
Of the 60% of the attendees whose course work already included some mention of geosynthetics 82% indicated that based on the EtE an increase in the geosynthetics content was incorporated for the 2015-16 academic year!

The budget for these two programs is $80,000 US. The IGS-NA is offering sponsorship programs in order to fund both projects. IGS-NA is seeking sponsors. If you or your company would like to consider supporting long-term quality growth of geosynthetics usage through sponsorship of either or both of these programs. Please don’t hesitate to call or write. Sponsorships available.

Thank you Current Sponsors!

Sponsorship Opportunities

Gold Sponsor $20,000 USD

• Table top exhibit space at EtE
• Company name and logo on external covers of printed material
• Company name and logo recognized as a sponsor at the beginning of each day’s presentations
• Opportunity to present a case study to the EtE Students during the program
• Case study presentation included in the Student-Professors’ materials for re-use
• Attendee list
• Recognition as Sponsor for each of the Educate the Students events in the 2017-18 educational year
• Opportunity to contribute labeled materials for sample boxes provided to Student-Professors
• Opportunity to distribute electronic materials via the Educate the Students
• Inclusion on all promotional materials including web site and social media regarding both of the programs.

 
Silver Sponsor $10,000 USD

• Table top space at EtE
• Company name and logo on internal covers of printed materials
• Company name and logo recognized as a secondary sponsor at the beginning of each day’s presentations
• Attendee list
• Recognition as Sponsor for each of the Educate the Students events in the 2017-18 educational year
• Opportunity to contribute labeled materials for sample boxes provided to Student-Professors

 
Bronze Sponsor $ 5,000 USD

• Company name and logo on internal covers of printed materials
• Company name and logo recognized as a secondary sponsor at the beginning of each day’s presentations
• Opportunity to present a case study to the EtE Students during the program
• Recognition as Sponsor for each of the Educate the Students events in the 2017-18 educational year

 
If you are interested in sponsorship or have additional questions please contact John Henderson, J.Henderson@TenCate.com< or call +1.706 693 1836.