Service and outreach from the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering is primarily provided by the Extension Engineering unit of Cooperative Extension - serving primarily agricultural interests and needs; the Engineering Outreach Service - serving primarily industry and government needs; and the Office of the State climatologist - which serves local, state, and federal needs. Through these three structures, BAE Department academic and professional expertise is extended to the public - and through comprehensive planning processes, each of these entities is able to identify and respond to current and emerging needs of stakeholders in the state, nation, and world.
In addition, many research and teaching faculty members, and even students, through service-learning initiatives, make significant service contributions and several faculty members are involved in centers or multi-disciplinary programs that engage in significant service-oriented activities.
The BAE Department's extension program is recognized throughout Cooperative Extension for its contributions to the success of county agents and those engaged with the agricultural sector statewide. With faculty located on the three campuses (Athens, Griffin and Tifton), Extension Engineering provides statewide leadership in several areas that serve farmers and the agricultural community, community governments, and private citizens. Some of the main emphasis areas include:
The Engineering Outreach Service (EOS) provides engineering service and outreach to industry (primarily non-agricultural) and government. While it is a unit of the Faculty of Engineering, the EOS works closely with Extension Engineering.
The primary responsibilities of EOS are to provide technology transfer, technical assistance, education and applied research for stakeholders in the state. Emphases center on energy conservation, water conservation, water and air quality, solid waste and other environmental and sustainability issues. The overall goal of the EOS is to decrease the cost of doing business, increase environmental sustainability and competitiveness of the state's industries, lower costs for government agencies and facilities, and enhance economic development.
The Office of the State Climatologist (OSC) is housed in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering. The primary duties of the OSC are to: 1) coordinate and collect weather observations for the purpose of climate monitoring; 2) summarize and disseminate weather and climate information to the user community; 3) demonstrate the value of climate information in the decision making process; 4) perform climate impact assessments and weather event evaluations; 5) conduct climate research, diagnosis, and projections; and 6) assist state agencies in their weather and climate needs.
