ATRP 50th--Episode 8-Brian Kiepper on ATRP's Coordination With the University of Georgia

This episode of the Georgia Tech Research Podcast is devoted to the Agricultural Technology Research Program's collaborations with the University of Georgia (UGA) Poultry Science Department. ATRP works closely with UGA for research projects to support the poultry industry. The guest for this episode is Dr. Brian Kiepper. Brian is an associate professor and extension specialist-- a jack of all trades. He conducts research, is an extension specialist, teaches, and is an adjunct appointment within UGA's College of Engineering. Kiepper speaks with host Stephanie Richter, a GTRI 

The episode comes just as UGA is completing construction on its new Poultry Science Building. The $54 million, 70,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility is scheduled to be completed Oct. 6. Kiepper says he can see the edifice right outside his office window.

Kiepper's commitment to all things poultry is encapsulated in a class he regularly teaches at UGA: “Chicken Que: Science Behind the Grill.” In the largely hands-on course, Kiepper not only teaches students about the poultry industry, he adds a little "spice" by teaching them about locally grown peppers and other seasonings and flavors.

In the podcast interview, Kiepper "peppers" his answers with stories about his life and professional development. 

The former Zookeeper began his relationship with university agricultural programs through his work with a pollution-prevention organization focusing on wastewater issues. Inevitably, his work became linked with agriculture programs at both Georgia Tech and UGA, and by "extension," the state of Georgia's massive poultry industry.

"It's staggering to think there are about 11 million people living in the state of Georgia, but we raise almost one and a half billion chickens in this state every year," Kiepper tells Richter. "It's almost hard to get your brain around from all industries slowly and surely."

On his ongoing work with Georgia Tech, he says, "We're all part of the university system of Georgia. So I have people at Georgia Tech who might not be {formally recognized by the state of Georgia] state specialists, but they're my state specialists. When I call and get a question that I need help on, that expertise gets tapped."

He speaks extensively on a major project he is working on along with researchers from Georgia Tech, called the "Processing of the Future Project."

"What I really love about this Processing of the Future Project is it's trying to break down all these old walls we built all the time on why you can't do something. Innovation is really tough to do when you have a mindset of any kind of suggestion of a new way to do something, trying to think of all the different aspects that are going to keep you from doing that, all the current roadblocks that are in place, whether it be environmental, whether it be financial, whether it be whatever that stop you from doing that.

"This idea started with that genesis of Georgia Tech sitting in rooms challenging myself every time crazy idea comes up, don't think of the hundred reasons why it's not going to work. Think about the possibilities if it did work."