"Machine Shop Teaches Industrial Skills to Academics"

                                       Featured Article 1/24/06 Inside CU

Why Industrial Trades?

There's a link missing in higher education - a basic understanding of the industrial trades. Fabrication through machining and welding. Understanding different types of metals just didn't seem as important until you've had something made out of the wrong type at a very high expense.

Typical college instruction is geared to the higher levels of understanding very complex ideas Physics (atomic, molecular, and optical, elementary particle, nuclear, condensed matter, plasma, gravitational, and geophysics), Engineering (aerospace, chemical, civil, computer science, electrical, mechanical, and telecommunications), and the Fine Arts (sculpture). These hard sciences miss the boat on 'hands-on' fabrication. The one and only'widget' that can make a research project work, the basics of welding needed for a new sculpture, and/or the experience that can mean creating better designs and ways to work with a full fledged machinist (not just the ones in the 'outside' world but here at CU too).

The University of Colorado is pleased to present the Physics Trades Teaching Lab. Currently there are two classes to choose from Machine Shop Technology Course and Beginning Welding Course. These classes are small- 6 students per week-long class, offer real hands-on experience, and open to students (undergraduate and graduate), faculty (even University Chancellors, Vice Chancellors, Deans, and Department Heads), and staff. These courses, the only ones that the Department of Risk Management has given a stamp of approval to, are being taught by the talented, accomplished, and award wining machinist/Master Welder Sid Gustafson.
 
 

For information on class availability please contact:

Sid Gustafson at sid.gustafson@colorado.edu or call 303-492-8545.