Energy Task Force members visit Penn State
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January 22, 2008
The Daily Collegian
By Brandon Taylor, Collegian Staff Writer
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State Representative Stan Saylor |
"Penn State is the leading energy-conservation university in the state," said state Rep. Stan Saylor, R-York. "We're here to see what part it should play in research and job creation."
Saylor, chairman of the House Republican Energy Task Force, and Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, R-Centre, took a tour of Penn State's energy and research facilities to see what projects were already in progress and to determine what policies to propose concerning environmental issues, Saylor said.
These policies would center heavily on Penn State energy research involvement, Benninghoff said, and some policies could result in tax deductions and other benefits for citizens and businesses that implement energy efficiency measures.
"Our task force is not the only answer," Benninghoff said. "Penn State is the crown jewel in that equation."
Additional state money would be provided to Penn State to facilitate research, Saylor added.
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State Representative Kerry Benninghoff |
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The tour included visits to the EMS Energy Institute, Breazeale Nuclear Reactor, professor of environmental engineering Bruce Logan's microbial fuel cell lab, and the cellulosic bioconversion lab, said Tom Richard, director of Penn State Institutes for Energy and the Environment.
"There was a good deal of interest in clean coal technology, the nuclear engineering program and various types of bioenergy research," Richard said. "There was also strong interest in how well Penn State is working with industry to implement our discoveries in real-world applications."
Another point of interest was how the university could attract energy companies, Saylor said.
"There's a shortage of engineers in Pennsylvania," Saylor said. "We'd like to see more engineering students graduate. One of our policies would be to offer loan forgiveness for graduate students who stay in Pennsylvania."
Funding research is an important factor in spurring economic growth, as businesses and economic developers are attracted to locations where states are investing in energy research and demonstration programs, Richard said.
Penn State to compete in 2009 Solar Decathlon; Brownson to lead team
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January 24, 2008, Penn State Live - After finishing fourth in last year's Solar Decathlon, Penn State will compete in the 2009 contest to be held again on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
The Solar Decathlon is an international competition that challenges college students to design, build and operate the most attractive and energy-efficient home powered by sunlight, including electricity, hot water and interior climate control.
The contest is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Penn State's entry, dubbed "Natural Fusion," is one of only 20 invited to participate in the September 2009 competition. This will be the second time the University has competed in the Solar Decathlon. Its 2007 entry was called "MorningStar."
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Penn State students built not one but two solar homes for last year's Solar Decathlon, one intended for the competition and this straw-bale rendition was finished during the summer and currently serves the needs of Chief Dull Knife College on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation in Montana. Penn State students also spent time showing local residents how to use solar power and energy efficient technologies. (Photo: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon) |
The team will be led by Jeffrey Brownson, assistant professor of energy and mineral engineering and Kyle Macht, a student in architectural engineering. Natural Fusion will involve students and faculty from the Colleges of Earth and Mineral Sciences, Engineering and Arts and Architecture.
The team's faculty advisers include Lisa Iulo, assistant professor of architecture; Andrew Lau, associate professor of engineering design; David Riley, associate professor of architectural engineering; Seth Blumsack, assistant professor of energy policy; James Freihaut, associate professor of architectural engineering; Moses Ling, associate professor of architectural engineering; Stuart Echols, assistant professor of landscape architecture; and Daniel Linzell, associate professor of civil engineering.
Sharon Miller: Inspiring Students for Careers in Science
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“My whole goal is to try and get students into a different environment, hands-on and get them thinking critically,” Dr. Miller says.
In her capacity as director for the OSD, Dr. Miller is responsible for coordinating programs that focus on facilitating the educational experience for students beyond the classroom.
As the present concern for a clean and energy efficient society heightens, so does the demand for a future generation of scientists. Educational programs, like those offered through the OSD, may be instrumental in developing future leaders in the field of science.
Dr. Miller says there has been an increase in students involved in energy research since the office’s establishment almost two years ago, which is especially apparent in female numbers. Programs targeting girls and minorities have been very important to the OSD’s mission, she says.
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Sharon Falcone Miller, research associate at the Energy Institute and director of the Office of Student Development, talks to high school students about the heating value of various fuels at the 24th Pennsylvania Envirothon's poster session. |
Opportunities available through the OSD for K-12 students include school visits, summer science camps, Science Lions (a graduate student educational outreach group sponsored by the OSD), and other various outreach activities. Undergraduate students at Penn State can take advantage of internships, fellowships, wage/payroll positions, and senior/honors thesis research opportunities at the EMS Energy Institute.
Also a part-time research associate at the Institute, Dr. Miller is focused on investigating the inorganic portion of fuels and what environmental impacts result when different fuels are utilized.
She received her B.S. and M.S. degrees in Geology, and later her Ph.D. in Fuel Science at Penn State. As a researcher, Dr. Miller says the hands-on and problem-solving aspects of her work appeal to her, as well as seeing how research can translate to the outside world and ultimately impact lives.
When her research duties are paired with her student development workload, it is not surprising that Dr. Miller has her hands full. Nevertheless, she is constantly looking for new ways to get young people involved in energy research.
One emerging initiative is the establishment of an international exchange program, specifically for the field of energy engineering. She says having a program where there is an exchange between universities is advantageous to both parties because students are much more likely to be set up with research programs abroad that are specific to their interests.
“If you’re a little proactive and you seek out partnerships then your chance for a successful experience is much better,” she says.
Similarly, an industrial internship program for Penn State undergrads with the specific focus of energy engineering is also in the works and may operate in conjunction with the Engineering Cooperative Education & Professional Internship Program in the College of Engineering.
Another initiative Dr. Miller is pursuing is a mentorship program where undergraduates will be paired with graduate students and assist them in a research environment. Too often students at the undergraduate level don’t ever get the exposure to a research setting, she says.
“The grad students get help on a research project...and it benefits the undergrads because they get that experience,” she says. “It helps them decide if they’re interested in grad school because it gives them a better idea of what it’s all about.”
Research opportunities at the EMS Energy Institute are open to undergrads from all Colleges of study so long as the interests of the individuals match the area of research. Dr. Miller says it ultimately takes the support of the faculty and the departments to pull off successful programs.
“I think there’s a long-term commitment to the whole-student centered idea,” she says. “And I like to think that the Institute’s commitment reflects the University’s educational commitment.”
Upcoming Events
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There are no upcoming events at this time.
Contracts/Grants
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The Energy Institute received roughly $438,000 in contracts and grants in the second quarter of the 2007-2008 fiscal year.
Aksoy, Parvana; Sulfur Loss (Desulfurization) of Carbon Materials at High Temperature III; CII Carbon LLC
Boehman, André; Predictive Phenomenological Combustion Model Development and Implementation in a Diesel Engine System; General Motors Corporation
Burgess-Clifford, Caroline; Coker Runs, Optifuel
Miller, Bruce; Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation
Miller, Bruce; Headwaters Incorporated
Schobert, Harold; Advanced Thermally Stable Coal-Based Jet Fuels; U.S. Department of the Air Force
Song, Chunshan; Altex Technologies Corporation