Sustainable Energy Forum, June 4-5, 2012

The Youngstown State University Sustainable Energy Forum will be held on June 4-5, 2012 in Kilcawley Center on the YSU Campus. Details are available at www.ysu.edu/sef

The fourth annual Forum will host more than 200 academicians, energy industry leaders, government officials, and entrepreneurs. The Forum focus is on technology that is imminently ready for commercialization, especially those technologies which will have a near-term positive impact on commercial, industrial and residential energy savings.

The YSU Sustainable Energy Forum places a particular focus on sustainable and other clean energy technologies that are being successfully implemented within the region. The planned Tuesday conference technical sessions include such topics as renewables, waste-to-energy, natural gas applications, water technology resources, vehicle electrification, energy management, and small modular nuclear energy.

A key objective of the YSU Sustainable Energy Forum is collaboration building amongst attendees. In past years, entrepreneurs have teamed up with students/faculty to successfully pursue sponsored research funding. Researchers have also engaged large energy companies for insights and opportunities. All attendees gain a clearer picture of national and state energy priorities, as well as the strategic direction of the energy industry.

Monday, June 4 will feature plenary presentations by a series of national and regional keynote speakers.

Relevant technical abstracts are invited for our planned technology focus sessions on Tuesday, June 5, in which technical and industry experts will engage in discussion with entrepreneurs and researchers.

The YSU Sustainable Energy Forum also features an “Energy Expo”, in which participating organizations and companies display products and technologies. Expo participants receive program billing, conference registration, and a two-day display space in Kilcawley Center.

Please go to www.ysu.edu/sef for additional conference details, a list of speakers and agenda, abstract submission, and for individual and Energy Expo registration.

STEM College Implements New Ph.D. Program

The new Ph.D. program in Materials Science and Engineering focuses on industrial collaboration where students will participate in research projects relevant to current industry innovations. Dr. Hazel Marie, the program’s director, said, “The program is unique in its emphasis to produce Ph.D. students that will use their talents in local and regional industries.” The program received final approval this summer and is now accepting students.

 

The new program and related research will become a vital hub for regional economic development and position YSU as an urban research university. Faculty from multiple science and engineering disciplines will work together with industry partners to champion scientific, engineering and commercial development throughout the region and beyond. Program graduates will have significant internship and outreach opportunities that will have a major impact in the region. For more information on the program, visit the Ph.D. program website.

Youngstown State University holds third annual Sustainable Energy Forum

Youngstown State University hosted its third annual Sustainable Energy Forum on June 5, 6 & 7, 2011. This conference brought together more than 200 attendees from academia, government and industry in far-reaching discussions on various aspects of sustainable energy, including wind, solar, bio-fuels, energy efficiency, liquid fuels, landfill gas and fuel cells.

While the primary objective of the conference was to highten awareness of the imminent environmental challenges and to propose commercially and scientifically viable solutions to resolve problems, other conference objectives included:

  1. Guiding regional economic development through the commercialization of energy technologies.
  2. Promoting collaborative green energy technology ventures, linking the government, businesses and the university.
  3. Discussing information on technologies involving renewable energy and energy efficiency.
  4. Identifying specific areas of essential research and topics for forthcoming discussions.
  5. Pinpointing opportunities to pursue joint research in technology development for sustainable energy.

A key theme for the 2011 Conference was ‘Driving Down the Commercialization Cost of Energy Technologies’. The conference format included several presentations by regional, national, and international researchers, engineers and government figures who all share a keen interest in Sustainable Energy solutions.

Keynote Speakers included Mr. Eric Spiegel, President of Siemens North America, Acting Assistant Secretary of Energy Dr. Henry Kelly, Mr. Jack Ihle, National energy Policy Expert, and Congressman Tim Ryan.

Over a dozen regional agencies and manufacturers displayed product innovations and collaboration opportunities in an Energy Expo that ran concurrent with the conference. Event sponsorship was provided by V&M Star, NorTech, the Dominion Foundation, Johnson Controls, Roth Brothers, the Regional Chamber, Applied Systems and Technology Transfer, and the Youngstown Business Incubator.