| Oct 16, 2008 | Vol. 2. No. 17 |
IN THIS ISSUE: MMPEI IN THE NEWS, U-M IN THE NEWS, ENERGY NEWS, FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES, UPCOMING EVENTS and RESEARCH AND FACULTY POSITIONS
MMPEI IN THE NEWS
There's just no way to ignore Michigan's 800-pound university research gorilla
Great Lakes IT Report's twice-a-year Tech Tour explores U-M research including a visit with MMPEI's Gary Was and Ann Marie Sastry.
Steve Forrest on U-M solar and battery research
Listen to Greening of the Great Lake's Episode 6 for a podcast with the VP of Research, Steve Forrest.
U-M IN THE NEWS
Scientists put future plug-ins to work
In the not-so-distant future, the next wave of energy efficiency could involve drawing excess power from the charged batteries of parked, plugged-in plug-ins. "If we had lots of PHEVs all plugged into the grid, then what seems like an insignificant amount of energy storage becomes a large energy storage," University of Michigan Mechanical Engineering Professor Jeff Stein said in a press release. In other words, parking lots will turn into giant automotive communes in which your cars will create and share electricity based on their needs and abilities. For a U-M Press Release .....
U-M boasting 13 new startup businesses this year
"If you look at the past five or six years, we've made a lot of progress," said Ken Nisbet, executive director of U-M's Tech Transfer office. "The number 13 is a very impressive number compared to other universities' with (business) spinouts. It puts us in the same league with Stanford, Georgia Tech ... We are probably well within top 10, if not the top five, in numbers of businesses spun out from the university and we are in the Midwest. "One of those spinouts from last year is Sakti3. That new company, which is developing a battery to power cars, has attracted venture capital funding from a well-known West Coast firm and was recently designated one of the state's first Centers for Energy Excellence.
UM research hits record $876 million
Research spending at the University of Michigan reached $875.8 million in 2007-08, an all-time high and a 6.4 percent increase over the previous year. The federal government provided 69.8 percent of the funds. But while the federal commitment edged up 2.7 percent last year, industry sponsorships surged 11 percent, following a nearly 15 percent jump the previous fiscal year. Those numbers suggest that UM's drive to forge stronger ties with industry -- and to help resuscitate the Michigan economy -- is finally bearing fruit, said Stephen Forrest, vice president for research.
ENERGY NEWS
Geothermal backers say it's their time to shine
An unusual combination of economic and environmental forces have created a "perfect storm" that could help geothermal shed its back-seat status to its renewable cousins wind and solar energy, experts said at an international conference. For an additional story on the geothermal energy conference ...
Energy-saving windows a legacy of '70s oil crisis
You may have noticed that clear-glass buildings are springing up in cities across the United States. The reason dates back to some 1970s-era research designed to make windows more energy-efficient. In fact, this line of research turns out to be one of the biggest success stories to come out of the last energy crisis — and there are lessons to be learned, as America once again ramps up its energy research.
Cylindrical solar cells give a whole new meaning to sunroof
Solyndra hopes to capture the wasted sunlight falling on roofs by making solar cells into cylinders rather than panels.
Solar updraft towers: variations and research
The idea of using solar radiation to generate air convection that can subsequently be converted to an energy source has been around since the start of the 20th century, when a Spanish Colonel called Isidoro Cabanyes proposed it in a scientific magazine. Solar Updraft towers, also called solar wind or solar chimney plants, provide a very simple method for renewable electricity generation, with a constant and reliable output.
Why clean tech is taking biotech's shine
It's simple: Alternative energy is where the venture capital is these days. Plus, the skill sets are similar, and researchers are making the jump.
New Jersey plans to become a world leader in wind power
New Jersey is powering up an ambitious plan to become a world leader in the use of wind-generated energy.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
National Geothermal Database - Due 2/03/2009
The U.S. Department of Energy Golden Field Office is soliciting research proposals (DE-PS36-08GO98020) to create a web-based National Geothermal Database that will serve as a central repository for all publicly accessible geothermal data. The National Geothermal Database will store critical geothermal site attribute information such as temperature at depth, seismicity/microseismicity, fracture maps, drilling data, permeability data, well logs, geophysical surveys, etc. The database should be inclusive of all types of geothermal resources such as hydrothermal, geopressured, Enhanced Geothermal Systems, geothermal fluids coproduced with oil and/or gas, etc. Initial funding for this award is listed at $1,300,000 in FY 2009; with additional anticipated funds of $3,700,000 in FY 2010 through FY 2013 for a total of $5,000,000.
Find out about the DTE Energy/U- M Clean Energy Prize
Visit http://www.energy.umich.edu/info/funding.html for additional funding opportunities.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) & The Smart Grid
When: Thursday, Oct 23, 3 - 7:00 p.m.
Where: University of Michigan, Power Center
For Tickets : Register online or purchase tickets at the event
Sponsors Include: U-M, DTE, Google, Ann Arbor Business Review, Washtenaw Economic Club, Ann Arbor Spark and MEDC
Providing the latest information from nationally recognized experts, TechKnow Forum 2008 will unite leaders in industry, research and policy with key Michigan stakeholders. TechKnow Forum 2008 is a unique opportunity to discuss the impact of the coming PLUG-IN HYBRIDS and the SMART GRID required to power them in Michigan.
Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences 50th Anniversary Celebration: Keynote Speaker - David Kay
When: Monday, Nov 3, 8:30 a.m.
Where: University of Michigan, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library, 1000 Beal Street
What: As part of the NERS departments's anniversary celebration, Dr. David Kay, Senior Research Fellow from the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies will discuss "Rethinking the Non-proliferation Requirements for a Nuclear Renaissance." The event is free and open to the public.
Focus on the Future Conference Series: New Powertrain Technologies
When: Monday, Nov. 10, 9 - 4 p.m.
Where: University of Michigan, Michigan League
What: University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute's second conference of the year will focus on one of the most important challenges facing manufacturers in the next few years as they roll out new powertrain technologies: If they provide these new powertrain technologies, will consumers buy them? To answer this question we will hear from market research firms, UM researchers looking into consumer and market models, as well as the manufacturers themselves. Attendees will learn of alternative approaches and tools being used to understand the adoption by consumers of new powertrain technologies.
Erb Colloquium: Judith Walls
When: Monday, Nov 17, 12 - 1:30
Where: University of Michigan, Michigan League
Speaker: Judith is an Erb Post-Doctoral Research Fellow. Her research explores the relationship between corporate governance and environmental strategy, mechanisms of industrial symbiosis strategy, corporate strategic responses to renewable energy policies, and innovation in energy efficient technology.
RESEARCH AND FACULTY POSITIONS
Research Position: Electrochemistry for Energy Storage and Fuel Cells
The recently founded Fundación energiGUNE for research into energy is looking to hire a research leader in the area of energy storage and fuel cells. This permanent research position in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Basque Country, Spain involves designing the research laboratory and setting up the research team. Applicants will have proven and wide-ranging experience and leadership in the fields of electrochemistry, material science and catalysis, connected to developing advanced batteries, electrochemical condensers and fuel cells. A good understanding of the processes occurring in micro and nanostructure electrodes is expected, in order to improve performance and reduce degradation.
Visit http://www.energy.umich.edu/careers/facultypositions.html for information on University of Michigan open faculty positions exploring energy storage and social science and energy.
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