Wood Education Institute

The Wood Education Institute was created in 2008 to address the glaring lack of wood design education at the university level.  The national recognition of the value of the eco-friendly construction materials has elevated the need for using wood beyond residential construction. Not only wood is one of the oldest construction materials it is also recognized as being renewable, biodegradable, carbon negative, cost effective and a naturally pleasing material. The understanding of this material and its expanded and effective use in construction of non-residential structures is consistent with our National Goals and International obligations as it relates to the reduction of the carbon footprint.

The first project of the Wood Education Institute (WEI) is creating a pilot wood design education curriculum.  This project is funded and supported by collaboration between the Wood Products Council and the Cal Poly Pomona as a representative of the California State University (CSU) system.  During the first phase of the project a team of university professors representining majority of CSU campuses and out of state campuses offering Civil/Architectural/Structural Programs, practicing professionals and the representatives of the forest products industry will be assembled to develop an online wood education curriculum which will eventually become available to the universities and continuing education programs nationwide.

The WEI governing body will consist of the  Advisory Board and Development Board. The Development Board will be responsible for hands-on development of the educational material. The Advisory Board,  consisting of the recognized experts in the area of Wood research and design, will serve in a pier review capacity to assure the high quality of educational materials.

If you are interested in learning more about the institute, becoming part of our development team or providing financial and/or technical support please email the WEI principle investigator, Mikhail Gershfeld, at mgershfeld@csupomona.edu.