2009 P.I.E. Will Take PSE Students to Chile

Paper Science & Engineering students are asking for the support of friends, companies, and alumni to help with the 2009 Paper International Experience (P.I.E.).

The Paper International Experience program was launched in 2007 with two main goals: 1) Immerse PSE students in another culture, to improve their understanding of the world, and 2) To let PSE students observe the pulp and paper industry in other countries and think about ways that the US industry can compete better in the global market. P.I.E. is designed to be conducted every two years, with students participating as either juniors or seniors. The students are asked to provide support funding for the program by making an appeal to industry, supporters, alumni, and friends.

In the first iteration of P.I.E. in May 2007, 21 students traveled to China and had the chance to tour five state-of-the-art paper manufacturing operations, as well as interact with paper engineering students at the Nanjing Forestry University. This trip was, by all accounts, a great success.

For the 2009 trip, the student body has voted to go to Chile. This choice was a logical one, considering that A) The PSE faculty has established good contacts with the University of Concepcion; B) Friends and alumni of the program have good connections with the pulp and paper industry in Chile; and C) there are opportunities to see not only modern papermaking facilities, but also chemical pulping, mechanical pulping, recycling, and fast-growth forest plantations.

The trip, scheduled for the third week of May, will take the students to Santiago and Valparaiso for a few days of cultural immersion, followed by interactions with students at the University of Concepcion. The students will then go on 5-6 days of intensive mills visits in the vicinity around Concepcion.

The total costs per student for the trip, including air travel, are estimated at $3000. It is hoped that students will be able to participate by paying only $1000. Thus, if 25-30 students go on the trip, it will be necessary for them to raise funds in the amount of $50,000 - 60,000. As they did in 2007, the P.I.E. student organizing committee will be approaching individuals, companies, friends and alumni for assistance in raising funds.

A copy of the program brochure may be found at this link

www4.ncsu.edu/~medbyrd/PIE Chile 2009 Brochure.pdf


Students are encouraging individuals to come along on the trip as sponsor/participants. (Take it from Dr. Byrd....10 days traveling with these excitable and outstanding students will change your life FOREVER!).

All donations for P.I.E. 2009 are tax-deductible. Donating companies can sponsor 1/4- to full-page ads in the professionally-produced final report. A copy of the outstanding 2007 report may be found at the link below.

www4.ncsu.edu/~medbyrd/PIE Final Report 2007.pdf