(COLUMBIA, Tenn. - Sept. 16, 2016) - - - Columbia State Community College will kick-off the 2016-2017 STEM lecture series on Sept. 21 from 4 - 5 p.m. with "Emerging Trends and Current Technology in Concrete" presented by Dr. Heather Brown, Middle Tennessee State University concrete and construction management department chair and professor.

Brown will discuss the advances of the concrete industry and the impact it has on our everyday lives. The basic recipe of concrete has remained the same over time, but it has made remarkable advancements in the last 10 years. America has taken concrete to a new level with projects like the Freedom Tower and the Hoover Dam bridge. Join us as we learn how to build smarter, safer and greener.

In addition to being published in several academic journals, Brown's technical experience includes five years of material testing and research for the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

Brown has presented and lectured on several topics including: factors affecting concrete strength, pervious pavements, fiber reinforced concrete, whitetopping pavements, high performance concrete, excavatable flowable fill, skid resistant aggregates and concrete tolerances.

Brown is the faculty advisor for student organizations such as the American Concrete Institute and Associated General Contractors at MTSU. While at MTSU, Brown has been awarded the College of Basic and Applied Sciences Outstanding Grantsmanship, CBAS Overall Excellence, MTSU Faculty Who Make a Difference and was recognized as one of the 2015 Women of Influence in Rutherford County.

Brown earned her bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees in civil engineering at Tennessee Technological University.

Brown currently resides in Lascassas with her husband and two children.

The STEM lecture will be held in the Ledbetter Auditorium located in the Clement Building on the Columbia Campus. This event is free and open to the public.

For upcoming STEM events, visit http://www.columbiastate.edu/STEMLectureSeries.

Photo Caption: Dr. Heather Brown, Middle Tennessee State University concrete and construction management department chair and professor.

Columbia State is a two-year college, serving a nine-county area in southern Middle Tennessee with locations in Columbia, Franklin, Lawrenceburg, Lewisburg and Clifton. As Tennessee's first community college, Columbia State is committed to increasing access and enhancing diversity at all five campuses. Columbia State is a member of the Tennessee Board of Regents, one of the largest higher education systems in the nation. For more information, please visit www.ColumbiaState.edu.

Tennessee's Community Colleges is a system of 13 colleges offering a high-quality, affordable, convenient and personal education to prepare students to achieve their educational and career goals in two years or less. We offer associate degree and certificate programs, workforce development programs and transfer pathways to four-year degrees. For more information, please visit us online at tncommunitycolleges.org.

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