IU host to energy research conference
In response to the growing challenges focused on global energy acquisition and use, close to 200 faculty from every campus at Indiana University gathered Aug. 6 and 7 to begin the process of formulating a comprehensive energy research plan for IU.
IU's energy plan will identify pressing challenges in Indiana and the nation, and ways IU can contribute to sustainable solutions.
Hosted by the Office of the Vice Provost for Research at IU Bloomington and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research at IUPUI, the first day of the conference, held on the Bloomington campus, consisted of a series of talks by national and state leaders to identify the most pressing energy related issues facing our society.
The second day took place at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, where IU faculty worked in groups to examine IU's strengths and identify opportunities to contribute in each of the following areas: organizational barriers, transportation, education and workforce, energy source management, sustainability, policy, economic and legal issues, environmental issues, advanced materials and processes and computing.
Conference speakers included IU President Michael McRobbie, IU Executive Vice President and IU Bloomington Provost Karen Hanson, IUPUI Chancellor Charles Bantz, Brian Blackwell and Ben Harkness of the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division, Cummins Vice President for Research and Technology Wayne Eckerle, Purdue University Energy Center at Discovery Park Director Jay Gore, Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission Chairman David Hardy, Congressman Baron Hill, Energy Systems Network President and CEO Paul Mitchell, Indiana State Representative Matt Pierce, Leith Sharpe, former director of the Harvard Green Campus Initiative, and Rick Stevens of Argonne National Laboratory.
