Students learn a variety of analytic tools designed to help them evaluate, align, select, and implement emerging fire-science technologies.
The purpose of this course is to expose fire science students to a variety of emerging technologies related to their field of study. Each student is given the opportunity to explore a specific technology. This approach is designed to provide each student with a technical overview and an area of specific specialization (this specialization is typically in a technology area designated by their department).
In addition, students are given an introduction to techniques for evaluating (benchmarking) and diffusing technology. These management practices allow students to evaluate, align, and implement a selected technology. Management strategies include how to effectively impact the change process associated with any technical innovation.
Upon completion of the course students are able to:
- Define and identify emerging/leading technologies in the area of fire science
- Understand the benchmarking process for evaluating current and future direction
- Understand principles of change management in order to diffuse innovative technologies
- Develop a strategy for implementing new technologies within an organization
- Explore and understand a variety of fire science technologies
Instructors
Larry Grosse
larry.grosse@colostate.edu
Larry Grosse, Ph.D., began his fire service career as the organizer and manager of five volunteer fire departments for the Texas Youth Council facilities. During his tenure as the Chief of Construction for the Texas Youth Council, he was certified as an Advanced Fire Prevention Inspector by the Texas Commission on Fire Prevention Personnel Standards and Education. He led a research team at Texas A&M University that helped define the updated smoke detector requirements for residential occupancy. Dr. Grosse was an invited member of the National Smoke Detector Project sponsored by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Dr. Grosse served as a charter member of the National Fire Academy adjunct faculty, where he worked on a team that developed three courses offered by the National Fire Academy. In his role as an NFA adjunct faculty member, he taught the courses to fire personnel in 38 states.
For 15 years, he served as a professor and department head for the Department of Construction Science at Texas A&M University, then 12 years as a professor and department head of the Department of Construction Management at Colorado State University. In this role, he created the Fire and Emergency Services Administration online degree program at Colorado State University. Since his retirement from CSU, he has continued to teach and serve as a program coordinator for the FESA program.
