Frequent interactions among IGERT trainees is essential for exchanging technical results and ideas, fostering collaboration and building the interdisciplinary networks necessary to conduct state-of-the-art research. The Technical Exchange and Professional Development course is designed to provide a weekly forum for these exchanges and to develop the professional skills of the IGERT trainees. Trainees take this three credit-hour course twice (parts A and B). The Technical Exchange and Professional Development course integrates a formal technical exchange series with ethical debates, professional development workshops specifically tailored for IGERT trainees, a range of communication exercises, and development and implementation of a public outreach event.

During the formal technical exchange series, IGERT trainees as well as invited speakers from academia, industry and government present the results of their research relevant to the indoor environment.

Innovators who will lead the indoor environmental field will require not only technical communication and networking skills but also professional development skills. To this end, professional development workshops are integrated into the Technical Exchange course, and include discussions related to career options, negotiating first positions, delivering technical presentations, mentoring and more.