AEM 2815 - [Forest Bioeconomy]

Fall. Not offered: 2022-2023. Next offered: 2023-2024. 3 credits. Letter grades only (no audit).

Prerequisite: FWS or equivalent. Enrollment limited to: Dyson students.

T. Preszler.

We begin with an introduction to the role of the bioeconomy in society, a description of the various bioproduct categories, and an overview of the sustainable bioeconomy as it pertains to the timber industry. Our focus will be on understanding how the supply and demand dynamic of wood-based forest products affects personal and corporate behavior. Students will develop critical thinking and writing skills through assigned readings, class discussions, individual writing assignments, and presentations about important themes in the forest-based bioeconomy, including: The impacts of business innovation in emerging wood-based products, both positive and negative; Environmental and social risk management through recycling, management of residues and wastes, and end-of-life product analysis; Sustainability initiatives in the corporate sector, including intra-industry collaboration and the substitution of forest products for fossil fuels; Stakeholder engagement to overcome knowledge and implementation gaps along the global forest product value chain 3; Future supply and demand dynamics based on business growth and evolving consumer perceptions.