Beginning this fall, Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo Valley Community College will launch the nation's first higher education degree program in sustainable brewing. (Note: An earlier version of this story said the program was being started by WMU and Kalamazoo College, we regret the error.)
The Associate Dean of Western's College and Arts and Sciences Ed Martini says similar programs have been developed on the east and west coasts. But he says no one was doing a program quite like the one starting in Kalamazoo in the fall.
WMU Chemistry Professor Steve Bertman says sustainability is a big issue for brewers. They face obstacles such as water conservation and energy efficiency.
Martini says by combining resources, Western and KVCC will provide a program that's flexible for students and will allow them to start and complete their degrees in a number of ways. Bertman says the curriculum will be very science heavy. He says it will also give students interested in science another degree to pursue.
The sustainable brewing program will start in the fall with plans for about 20 students a year. But Martini says they should soon have a better idea of the demand. He says once word gets out about the program, "there will be plenty of students."
