New PSS graduate class opens door to Texas International Cotton School
Texas Tech is offering a special summer school class that focuses entirely on West Texas' most important agricultural crop - cotton. For two weeks during the height of the summer season, the university's students will be able to sign up for a non-traditional classroom experience known as the Texas International Cotton School.
The cotton school, which brings cotton industry professional from across the globe to the Texas High Plains, is two weeks of classes, lectures, tours and hands-on interaction in all phases of cotton production, harvesting, ginning, classing, testing, preparation and processing.
"The goal is to allow students and professionals to better understand the global cotton industry," said Cotton School Coordinator Christi Chadwell.
Last year 32 participants, half from 12 international destinations, graduated from the program. Since its inception in 1989, 514 students from 59 countries and 16 U.S. states have attended the course.
Sponsored and managed by the Lubbock Cotton Exchange and Tech's Fiber and Biopolymer Research Institute, the curriculum calls for full student participation during the August sessions, in addition to completing a midterm exam and term paper. The class counts for three hours of graduate academic credit.
Included in the course's fluffy fiber focus is U.S. cotton production, processing and marketing systems, along with an examination of the industry's latest machinery and equipment. "This is a hands-on course that covers all phases of production, harvesting, ginning, classing and testing," Chadwell said.
During the past decade West Texas cotton has experienced a dramatic transformation through new transgenic cotton varieties and advanced technology. During that time Texas Tech researchers have worked on a number of projects to enhance fiber quality through genetics and create new value-added cotton products.
Texas, the nation's leading producer of cotton, annually produces about 25 percent of cotton for the entire United States. Even with last year's deadly drought, the state's cotton production was 3.5 million bales.
Written by Norman Martin
CONTACT: Christi Chadwell, Communication & Recruiting Coordinator with joint appointment with the Fiber and Biopolymer Research Institute, Department of Plant and Soil Science, Texas Tech University at Christi.chadwell@ttu.edu or 806-742-2838 ext. 233
0517NM12
Editor's Note: For more information on the PSS 5370 course, contact Christi Chadwell
Davis College NewsCenter
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