Media advisory: Kansas State University Bulk Solids Innovation Center holds inaugural short course, leaders available for interviews
Monday, Jan. 25, 2016
The Kansas State University Bulk Solids Innovation Center is introducing new educational offerings with its inaugural short course Jan. 26-29 that covers the fundamentals of bulk solids processing and handling. | Download this photo.
SALINA — In less than a year after opening with a vision to provide educational offerings to students and professionals alike, the Kansas State University Bulk Solids Innovation Center is holding its first short course Jan. 26-29.
Media are invited to attend the inauguration of the bulk solids short courses on Tuesday, Jan. 26, with opportunities to interview leaders of the facility and within Kansas State University's polytechnic campus as well as attendees of the session. Individual interviews are available between 7:30 and 8 a.m., and media are welcome to stay for a brief presentation from 8 to 8:30 a.m. by Verna Fitzsimmons, Kansas State Polytechnic's CEO and dean; Kurt Barnhart, Kansas State Polytechnic's associate dean of research; Cory Downing, vice president of engineering at Vortex Valves; and Todd Smith, general manager of Coperion K-Tron. Vortex Valves and Coperion K-Tron are anchor occupants of the center.
The first short course is designed to give both new and existing employees within the bulk solids field comprehensive knowledge pertaining to handling, processing, storage and flow behavior. Students will learn to problem-solve a variety of bulk solids issues and will participate in a full-scale test laboratory session of bulk solids handling.
The Kansas State University Bulk Solids Innovation Center officially opened in May 2015 and hired research director John Lawrence in November 2015. The facility is a 13,000-square-foot space used to study the science and understanding of bulk solids materials handling, whether in undergraduate education, professional development or industry research. It is the only center of its kind in North America.
The Kansas State University Bulk Solids Innovation Center is at 607 N. Front Street in Salina. Media may park in the facility's lot or in the east parking lot across the street.
For questions about the inauguration of the bulk solids short courses, contact Kirsten Zoller at kzoller@k-state.edu or 785-826-7182. For inquiries about the center and its capabilities, contact Lawrence at jlawren@k-state.edu or 785-829-1110.
