News Releases

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The American Society of Agricultural Engineers has named Robert T. Burns, P.E., winner of one of its most prestigious honors, the Nolan Mitchell Young Extension Worker Award. Burns is an associate professor in the biosystems engineering and environmental science
department at the University of Tennessee.

Burns was selected for the award in recognition of his distinguished educational programming of water quality and animal waste management. The award will be presented July 30, 2003, at an ASAE luncheon at the Las Vegas Riviera Hotel.

Burns specializes in the design of animal waste management systems and nutrient management planning for livestock and poultry operations. He has developed and taught courses concerning biosystems and agricultural engineering, air pollution control, and comprehensive nutrient management plan development. As a water quality specialist for the UT Agricultural Extension Service, Burns provides educational programming and technical assistance to industry consultants, agricultural producers and extension agents.

Burns is also the technical leader of the UT Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP) Certification Program. UT’s certification program is considered to be a model program in the nation. Providers certified through UT can work in any state in the nation, provided they comply with local
regulations.

His research is involved with phosphorus recovery, anaerobic digestion and ammonia emission control from animal production facilities. Burns has worked on numerous environmental and agricultural engineering projects, including projects with the U.S. EPA, USDA Risk Management Association, America’s Clean Water Foundation, The Commonwealth Development Corporation of Great Britain,
The Democratic Republic of Zambia and several state departments of agriculture and environmental protection.

A 9-year member of ASAE, Burns is active in a number of ASAE technical and educational committees and has chaired the Society’s Tennessee section. He is also a member of the ASAE Professional Engineering Institute and the Tennessee Association of Agricultural Agents and Extension Specialists. He is a native to Winchester, Tennessee.

The American Society of Agricultural Engineers is an international professional and technical organization dedicated to the advancement of engineering applicable to biological, agricultural, and food systems. Founded in 1907 and headquartered in St Joseph, Michigan, ASAE comprises 9,000 members representing more than 100 countries. For more information on ASAE, call
(269) 429-0300 or visit http://www.asae.org.

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Contact: Patricia McDaniels or Samantha Hill, 865-974-7141