HomeMy WebLinkAboutDr Valerie Barber letter
January 22, 2010
SVHS School Board
Talkeetna, AK
Dear School Board Members,
I am writing to support the formation of a Research Forest in conjunction with a wood burning facility
to heat the new high school and for the development of associated high school curriculum and vo-tech
training. As the director of the UAF-Forest Products Program, I feel it is important to invest in our
students in order to help build local economy in our state. We are researching value-added wood
products that can be made with our Alaskan woods and hope to promote sustainable industry. A
research forest would give us the training grounds and the wood supply to realize some of these goals.
We have recently relocated to the UAF Palmer Research Station and hope to have a Forest Products
lab built within the next 2 years, complete with sawmill and kiln. We will be looking to build
relationships with local communities and schools to develop training programs in Forestry, Forest
Products, and Alternative Energy and Talkeetna would be a great place to start! I am willing to help
out in any way that I can, including supplying resources to make this happen.
Sincerely yours,
Dr. Valerie Barber, Director
UAF Forest Products Program
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Palmer Research and Extension Center
533 E Fireweed Ave
Palmer, AK 99645
907-746-9466
ffvab@uaf.edu