NC State's College of Forest Resources has been a leader in forestry research and teaching for 70 years. Starting this month, the college continues its leadership under a new name: the College of Natural Resources. The new name-- which became official on Monday, July 17, following approval by the university's Board of Trustees-- reflects the college's emphasis on the sustainable use and stewardship of natural resources.

For more information on this story, contact Kevin Potter at 919-515-3470 or kevin_potter@ncsu.edu, or look on the Web at http://natural-resources.ncsu.edu/naming.

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Dr. Larry W. Tombaugh, dean of the NC State College of Natural Resources, explains that the college's new name better describes the wide variety of natural resource-related issues addressed by its faculty. download Tombaugh1.wav

Tombaugh says that the College of Natural Resources headquarters the Southern Oxidants Study, an alliance of 200 scientists at scores of universities and public agencies who study air pollution and its effects on forests and other ecosystems in the Southeast.download Tombaugh2.wav

The dean explains that the college, established at NC State 70 years ago, has always addressed the sustainable use of natural resources. Maintaining the quality of those resources has become more challenging since then, he says. download Tombaugh3.wav

Even with the new name, Tombaugh says, the college will continue to offer strong programs related to forestry, paper and wood technology, and the management of parks, recreation and tourism. download Tombaugh4.wav