Published Feb 21, 2024 by Jack Barnwell When Bill Schnabel, the dean of the University of Alaska Fairbanks College of Engineering and Mines, examines the programs under his auspice, he views the students as essential to Alaska’s future.
“In the College of Engineering and Mines, we are very interested in the future of Alaska,” Schnabel said. “We believe what we contribute will make a difference to our future.”
Schnabel gave an update on UAF’s engineering and mining program Tuesday during a Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce luncheon.
“We work hand in hand with industry, so it’s really important on how we power the state in the urban areas, on the Railbelt and in rural areas,” Schnabel said.
Schnabel stressed that engineering solutions will be even more important in the future.
“We have a changing landscape, so we need to know how to do engineering in a changing environment,” Schnabel said. The CEM has about 450 students and 111 faculty and staff spread across eight disciplines, including civil, computer, electrical, geological, mechanical, mining and petroleum engineering, as well as computer science.
“We are interested in how we are going to move forward as a state, as a community and an economy,” Schnabel said. “We don’t want to look at how we did things 20 years ago, but rather now and in the future.”
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