SILOAM SPRINGS — John Brown University added a renewable energy concentration for engineering majors beginning fall of 2009.

“We have seen the current market focus on improved energy activities and ‘going green,’” said Dr. Larry Bland, professor of engineering. “The engineering department saw an excellent opportunity to partner with the JBU Natural Science department to meet an emerging need.”

After Natural Sciences announced the addition of a bachelor of science degree in renewable energy in the fall of 2008, the engineering department proposed the new concentration to the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology and received approval in September.

Concentrations for engineering had previously only been available in electrical / computer and mechanical engineering, Bland said.

While the renewable energy major aims to concentrate on the scientific side of renewable energy, the renewable energy engineering concentration uses the science to solve problems in society and emphasizes the application of renewable energy in an engineering design process.

John Brown University is a private Christian university, ranked second by U.S. News & World Report in the Southern Region. JBU enrolls more than 2,000 students from 42 states and 49 countries. JBU is a member of Arkansas’ Independent Colleges and Universities and the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities.

News, Pages 8 on 11/04/2009