Category: Events

Rural Reimagined recognizes PI Dr. Ferdinand DiFurio (Economics Finance and Marketing) and CO-PI Ms. Yolunda Nabors (Economics Finance and Marketing) for being awarded a $63,285 rural-based grant from the Tennessee Rural Communications Cooperatives Association to conduct an economic impact analysis of a broadband project in Tennessee. According to Dr. DiFurio and Ms. Nabors, “Broadband access that meets established standards is considered by many a necessary condition for technological advance and economic growth in modern day times. And while it is clear that broadband expansion creates jobs and increases business and commerce, it represents technological progress that is vital to a growing economy.” Rural Reimagined is excited to see the impact of this study on our surrounding rural areas. Wings up!

Rural Reimagined recognizes PI Dr. Pingen Chen and CO-PIs Drs. Vahid Motevalli, Stephen Canfield, Olorunfemi Ojo, and Indranil Bhattacharya for being awarded a $779,823 rural-based grant from the U.S. Dept. Of Energy for developing an EV demonstration testbed in the Upper Cumberland region. Although electric vehicles (EVs) are promising solutions for rural mobility due to the lower fuel cost and lower maintenance cost, rural and economically distressed areas are facing numerous challenges in adopting EVs due to low population density, lack of EV charging infrastructures, lack of experience, and low consumer awareness. The project’s EV demonstration testbed will provide the experience, research, demonstration and educational opportunities needed to address EV adoption issues in addition to reducing transportation cost, fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, and improving the fuel diversity, environmental quality and public health in rural areas. Wings up!

Celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment and women’s right to vote at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 26, on Centennial Plaza (rain location Roaden University Center Multipurpose Room). Join the Women’s Center as we take part in the nationwide Forward Into Light Campaign where buildings across the country will light up in purple and gold (the colors of the Women’s Suffrage movement and Tech!) on this date. There will be displays, activities, snacks, and giveaways.

Are you interested in a part-time position during the semester? You don’t want to miss our Part-time Job Fair!  Join us on Wednesday, August 26 for the Part-time Job Fair from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Centennial Plaza! Bring lots of resumes and be prepared to discuss your qualifications with both on-campus and local employers. All majors are invited to participate! All participants will be required to follow Campus Return to Tech Guidelines in regards to social distancing and face coverings.

Employers Scheduled to Participate: Academy Distribution Center, First Freedom Bank, The Fit, Cumberland Container, Stonecom Radio, DelMonaco Winery & Vineyards, Taco Bell, Wilson Sporting Goods, Lux Boutiques, Twin Lakes, New Students and Family Programs, and Buffalo Wild Wings!  See you on the Plaza!

*In the event of inclement weather, the job fair will be held in the Roaden University Center Multipurpose Room.

Center for Career Development | career@tntech.edu

Rural Reimagined invites you to take part in a cameraless photography workshop on October 10th in Historic Rugby. Participants will experiment with cameraless photography methods by creating botanical photograms in a darkroom. Dr. Jeremy Blair, a Professor of Art Education at TN Tech, will instruct participants to learn basic darkroom techniques, forage outside for materials, and create stunning black and white photograms without a camera. The workshop is ideal for beginners, and all materials and supplies are provided. Regarding the workshop, Dr. Blair states, “The workshop will explore historic photography methods inspired by the Victorian era of photography.” Anyone can participate in the workshop, and there are also volunteer opportunities for students interested in photography, chemistry, or helping participants on certain tasks. Visit this link to view the registration information and learn more: https://www.historicrugby.org/events/event/cameraless-photography-workshop/

Congratulations to Rural Reimagined’s partner the Oakley STEM Center and PI Dr. Darek Potter (STEM Center Director), Co-PI Dr. Julie Baker (College of Education Associate Dean), and Co-PI Mr. Harry Ingle (College of Engineering Student Success Center Director) for being awarded a $49,875 grant to develop the Ambassadors for Rural Innovation & STEM Education (ARISE) program. The program will recruit 20 first-year student ambassadors from economically disadvantaged rural communities who are pursuing STEM and STEM-related majors. Student ambassadors will develop skills in teamwork, communication, networking, teaching pedagogy, and community service. They will also gain experiential learning by assisting teachers in delivering STEM-related lessons and will be mentored by regional industry partners to gain an understanding of local opportunities after graduation. Wings up! View the full story here: https://www.tntech.edu/grand-challenge/news/articles/20200812-stemcenter-arisegrant.php

Congratulations to Payton Womack, Ph.D student in the Program Planning & Evaluation (PPE) Program in the College of Education, for accepting the Graduate Assistant position through TCRI CARES! Payton will collaborate in the project’s research design seeking to develop and implement an accessible, sustainable, and responsive PPE model that will promote rural economic resiliency during and beyond the pandemic, specifically within our service region but also replicable in rural regions across the nation. Payton states, “After seeing the effects of the coronavirus in my rural community, I felt very drawn to the TCRI CARES project. The applied research within the grant provides me with an innovative opportunity to put my passion for rural communities to work with the intention to become stronger and better within the Upper Cumberland and across other rural areas.” Wings up! View the story here: https://www.tntech.edu/grand-challenge/news/articles/20200803-paytonwomack-tcricares.php

The Water Center, a Rural Reimagined partner, is working with the Defenders of Wildlife reduce plastic waste in streams, specifically in the Walden Ridge on the Cumberland plateau – the only TN stream containing the Laurel Dace, one of the rarest fishes in the world. The area’s tomato growers use plastic mulch to prevent weeds, but plastic often ends up in streams after windstorms or during post-season removal. The Water Center is testing paper mulch, a safer environmental alternative, at Tech’s Shipley and Oakley Farms to rectify the problems caused by plastic mulch in our region. Director Schaeffer states, “Paper mulch is a novel product with potential advantages to both growers and the environment as it controls weeds but also eventually turns into compost.” Wings up, Water Center! Contact the Water Center for more information on how you can get involved, and view the full story here: https://www.tntech.edu/grand-challenge/news/articles/20200803-watercenterpapermulch.php