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Author: Jasna Jankovic named 2024 Distinguished Engineering Educator

Jasna Jankovic, Associate Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE), has been recognized by the UConn College of Engineering as a winner of the 2024 Distinguished Engineering Educator Award. The DEE award is bestowed yearly on select engineering faculty for outstanding teaching and innovation at the undergraduate level.

Jankovic has been with UConn since 2018 and has been a valued member of the MSE Department. She has received a number of awards, including Provost Letter of Teaching Excellence in 2019 and 2020, and AAUP Award for Special Achievements 2021. Also in 2021 she received the prestigious NSF CAREER Award, which, besides an innovative research component, has a unique educational component using virtual reality. Jankovic recently received two grants from the Department of Energy, totaling close to $3 million. Her research group’s interests include advanced nanomaterials for clean energy, electrospinning for clean energy applications, and templating nature designs for application in clean energy.

Materials Science and Engineering | Jasna Jankovic named 2024 Distinguished Engineering Educator (uconn.edu)

Author: UConn Sustainability Action Plan Taking Wide-Ranging Approach to ‘Green’ Future

UConn has established a detailed plan to measure progress and achieve a wide range of sustainability goals, a commitment that President Radenka Maric describes as foundational to the University’s core values and mission.

The UConn Sustainability Action Plan delineates specific actions to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030; conserve resources; integrate sustainability across UConn’s academic and research activities; ensure equity and engagement; and establish partnerships and support innovation to address sustainability challenges.

“The Sustainability Action Plan outlines our strategic framework to cultivate a culture of environmental responsibility, social equity, and economic viability across all facets of our institution … (It) embodies our unwavering commitment to lead by example, embrace innovation, and create a resilient and sustainable future for our University and beyond,” Maric wrote in its introduction.

It complements UConn’s Strategic Plan, interweaving five key sustainability objectives with the 10-year strategic plan’s initiatives in academics, research, inclusivity, and other critical areas.

The Sustainability Action Plan’s emphasis on interdisciplinary collaborations also has inspired this month’s launch of UConn’s new ECollaboration Sustainability Network (ESN), a forum for students, faculty, and members to network, collaborate, and share sustainability-related information.

UConn Sustainability Action Plan Taking Wide-Ranging Approach to ‘Green’ Future

Author: Solar Nanodevices

Author: Sustainability Energy in Fuels

Author: Graduate Students Share Research, Network with Peers at UConn’s Sustainability Summit

Thirty graduate students shared their ongoing research during the inaugural Center for Clean Energy Engineering (C2E2) Graduate Student Research Summit in Sustainability.

The summit, held Feb. 16 and 17 at the Innovation Partnership Building (IPB), showcased the work of students from multiple disciplines in engineering. Graduate students Alanna Gado and Leila Chebbo organized and led the event.

“Graduate students at C2E2 don’t have many opportunities to practice research presentations outside of conferences and Ph.D program milestones,” Gado says. “We wanted this to be a valuable experience, where graduate students would receive feedback on their presentation skills while also networking with peers.”

The event opened with an introduction and welcome from C2E2 Director Xiao-Dong Zhou, the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund Professor in Sustainability and Nicholas E. Madonna Chair in Sustainability and a presentation from Theo Menounos, assistant director of the of the Center for Career Development and College of Engineering career readiness lead. Menounos offered tips and advice on public speaking and how to be confident when presenting and answering questions. “Theo’s presentation was very helpful,” Chebbo says. “The notes and advice he provided will be in my mind whenever I am preparing for a presentation.”

Graduate Students Share Research, Network with Peers at UConn’s Sustainability Summit

Author: UConn Students and Faculty Recognized by Nature Communications as Top 25 Health Sciences Articles of 2023

April 2, 2024 | Jordan Baker, Center for Clean Energy Engineering

UConn Biomedical Engineering Graduate Student had her paper, “Injectable and Biodegradable Piezoelectric Hydrogel for Osteoarthritis Treatment” listed as one of Nature Communication’s Top 25 Health Sciences Articles of 2023. Tra Vinikoor, who is a graduate student within\ the Department of Biomedical Engineering as well as the Center for Clean Energy Engineering (C2E2), was the lead on the paper. There were numerous contributors, two of which are also from C2E2, her advisor, Prof. Thanh Nguyen and Post Doc Somasundaram Prasadh, as well as collaborators from various disciplines across UConn’s College of Engineering and UConn Health. This paper is a part of a group of articles that were the most downloaded throughout the year and that highlight valuable research from an international community.

Their article explores alternative solutions to osteoarthritis treatment that works to do more than alleviate symptoms. Current treatments that use analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs only relieve symptoms, but they are presenting an option that will help to heal the cartilage. They have created a biodegradable piezoelectric hydrogel which can be injected into the joints and produce electrical cues under ultrasounds to spark healing.

This treatment aims to serve as a better alternative to standard treatments and surgeries that don’t ultimately heal the damaged tissue, as well as serve as a greener option. The injectable piezoelectric hydrogel carries thousands of nanofibers that act like small batteries and self-produce electricity under the ultrasounds. These batteries are special, meaning they are safe for the body and biodegradable, promoting green energy for body healing. Long term, there is the hope to use this same approach on other tissues and organs to further promote body healing through greener options.

Tra Vinikoor (left) and Prof. Thanh Nguyen (right) in the lab. (Contributed photo)

Author: Gift of Fuel Cell Units Enhances UConn’s Clean Energy Commitment

The Center for Clean Energy Engineering (C2E2) is set to receive a significant gift that will contribute to UConn’s goal of carbon neutrality.

InfraPrime – an international company that empowers its clients to reach carbon neutrality goals, and eventually carbon negativity – is donating eight solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) units to UConn. The units are versatile in their fuel choices, capable of directly generating electricity at a high efficiency from a variety of fuels, including hydrogen, ammonia, hydrocarbons, and biomass. When operating reversibly, those units can be used to produce hydrogen from water or convert CO2 to fuels.

Each individual unit is roughly the size of a dishwasher. Once delivered, they will be installed at C2E2 on the Depot Campus and at the Engineering Science Building at UConn Storrs to offer advanced research and training opportunities for UConn faculty members and students.

Gift of Fuel Cell Units Enhances UConn’s Clean Energy Commitment

Author: UConn Awarded $4.5M DOE Grant to Benefit Grid Reliability for Transmission and Distribution Systems

A project spearheaded by the University of Connecticut will help power grid operators nationwide revolutionize how renewable energy sources are integrated into the electrical grid.

On March 19, the Department of Energy awarded Lead Principal Investigator, Associate Director of the Eversource Energy Center and Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering Zongjie Wang with a $4.5 million grant ($3,340,168 DOE and $1,127,191 awardee costs share) to pursue this groundbreaking initiative, which focuses on developing a new “TRANSFORMATIVE” tool that will make significant improvements in power grid efficiency, reliability, and resilience to bounce back from disruptions, like severe weather events.

UConn Awarded $4.5M DOE Grant to Benefit Grid Reliability for Transmission and Distribution Systems

Author: Center for Clean Energy Engineering

Author: Forecasting Wind Energy

Author: Research Experience for Undergraduates Program

Author: UConn STEAM Solar Tree

Author: PEARL Research Lab

Author: CCAST-3D Printing Membranes

Author: “You Are Who You Believe You Are”; UConn’s Women in STEM are Creating Visibility for Younger Generations

February 7, 2024 | Olivia Ortegon and Jordan Baker, Center for Clean Energy Engineering

It is no secret that science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, (STEM) is usually looked at as a male dominated field mostly due to the stereotypes and prejudice placed on gender in the field. History often showcases how men strive in the field and their achievements, while women have very little spotlight. However, it is because of these pioneering female scientists, that women today are able to embrace careers in STEM. But there are still obstacles that they have to face to get where they want to be.

UConn is fortunate to have many of these women who work in the field to break down barriers and encourage others to join. The journey to get into academia is still a challenge and there is still a lack of visibility for younger generations to see people like themselves pursuing these careers that are predominantly male. UConn’s President Radenka Maric, who has achieved remarkable success in STEM, highlighted a key challenge: the limited visibility of women in senior leadership positions.

Maric, who served nearly 5 years as UConn’s Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship before advancing to become the Interim President at the University of Connecticut and UConn Health in February of 2022, is now UConn’s President. Her perspective sheds light on the need for greater representation and visibility of female leaders in STEM.

When there is a lack of visibility it can be hard and oftentimes daunting for people to make the steps to advance in their career and be their full potential. Despite the advances we have made towards gender equality, there is still a conversation to be had about the experiences of women in the world of academia, especially in STEM.

The Center for Clean Energy Engineering sat down with some of UConn’s renowned professors (both within the Center and outside) to have a conversation about what it means to be a woman in STEM. While answers varied between professors, there were commonalities among departments and individuals alike. Some felt that they hadn’t faced many difficulties being women in their departments, while some faced adversity when advancing their career paths. While there were some negative experiences that attest to how women still struggle to hold a place in academia, there are positives to show how STEM is changing continuously and creating more equality in the workplace.

Professor Emily Myers, from the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, said that “Men are expected to talk more, and they hold the floor in more conversations. I have struggled to be heard,” While one comment from Prof. Kristen Morgan, from the Department of Biomedical Engineering was that “Biomedical engineering is still male-dominated, and as an African-American woman, there are not a lot of people who look like me. It does affect me, and I have dealt with imposter syndrome.”

These professors are not alone in their feelings of being unheard or unseen. Many of the professors and administrators we spoke with shared similar experiences of needing to work harder to have their voices heard in meetings, to receive recognition for their work, and even to gain the same respect that their male colleagues receive. Despite the many advances we have made towards gender equality, we must acknowledge that there are still many inequalities present in the world of academia, and that these obstacles need to be addressed and removed.

Being heard and seen is also why diversity is so important on multiple levels, outside of just being a woman in STEM. Prof. Letitia Naigles with the Department of Psychological Sciences stated, “Every person has their own perspective. If we only restrict science to certain perspectives, we will miss a lot of science. We will miss out on asking certain questions if we only have a few perspectives, so it is important to acknowledge the many underrepresented groups in science.” Having diversity in STEM opens the door for new perspectives and ideologies that otherwise may not have occurred if everyone was the same. But diversity still continues to be an issue in some places.

While professors faced challenges of being accepted, some had a different experience. Prof. Ioulia Valla, from the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, said that her struggle

had more to do with the societal expectations and pressure of being a woman with a career. She said, “Navigating the balance between work, family, and personal growth is more challenging for a woman, which is what I saw in my career. I didn’t have any challenges because of the discipline itself, I think every woman can become whatever she wants. But navigating all the aspects and expectations is more challenging for women.” Not only did the faculty face challenges that were directly resulted from STEM and the prejudice of women in the field, but societal views on women and their place in careers also created challenges.

Prof. Akiko Nishyama, from the Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, also experienced something similar in regard to what society expected. She shared that she attended high school in Tokyo in the 1980s, where it was not as popular for women to be in science. Despite being the first woman to join her graduate program, she was generally met with acceptance. However, she did mention an experience where people would question whether or not she would go join the men and conduct post-mortem exams while studying pathology, furthering how societal views of women can impact their education and careers, especially if opportunities are hindered.

When faced with challenges such as these, it is not uncommon for people to give up. One question that was discussed was if they had ever felt like changing careers while pursuing their goals. Naigles gave her perspective: “I never thought about leaving academia. If I were to ever leave academia, it would be to become an environmental activist.”

Some professors shared this sentiment, while others felt differently: “Yes, I did sometimes think about changing careers, but I would get a good night’s sleep, or take a weekend to think about anything other than my work, and by the end, I was able to put things into perspective,” said Cynthia Jones, a professor emeritus from the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Setbacks are universal in all fields and areas of life. STEM setbacks can come in the form of failed experiments, rejected papers, or grant applications, but it should not discourage anyone from pursuing their goals. The way one handles these setbacks and continues to try and work towards their goals, illustrates the strength of women and why they belong in the field.

Overcoming setbacks is not always easy, but with the right support group it may not seem as daunting. Despite their experiences, many of the professors shared that they had strong support systems that helped them to work through challenges and achieve their goals.

“You never stop needing a mentor, or just someone to talk to. Once I started speaking with the women in my department, we all felt more comfortable speaking up in meetings. Sometimes we discuss issues that come with being women in our department, but we talk about other things, too,” shared Prof. Rachel O'Neill from the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology. “My husband is also a scientist, and he has been an equal partner in everything. I have incredible support at home.”

Support systems are beneficial and can help you stay motivated. Many of the professors discussed that staying motivated is an important part of achieving your goals. When we asked them what they would say to other women or younger generations who are interested in, or currently pursuing careers in STEM, motivation was one of the key answers, as well as enjoying what you are studying. You are never going to get far if you don’t enjoy what you do and you don’t find passion in your work. It will be very difficult to deal with hardships if you are not interested in the field you are pursuing.

Prof. Maria-Luz Fernandez, from the Department of Nutritional Sciences looked back on her own experiences as she moved through her academic career: “Don’t get discouraged and stay focused. There will be times when you don’t get the grants you apply for, or your paper is rejected, but you need to stay strong and always have a goal you are working towards. Then, everything will eventually fall into place.”

“I always say, keep going towards your goals, step by step. Regardless of your stage in career and life, you can do it, if you have the right support. Ask for help and offer help. Be proactive, connect with people. Keep building your skills. And finally, leave some time for yourself and your family,” shared Prof. Jasna Jankovic from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering.

Valla said her advice for women and young girls is to not be afraid of failure. It’s okay to fail. “I would say that everything is manageable, no matter how difficult it seems to be. Success is never coincidental. They should not be intimidated to ask for support and help, sometimes that is all it takes to ask for those things.” She explained, asking for help can be intimidating, but asking doesn’t mean one isn’t good enough.

While challenges have occurred and work still needs to be done to address the prejudice surrounding women in STEM, especially for the younger generations, these professors are serving as an example of someone who is being seen and heard within their field. Every professor wanted to emphasize that despite any difficulties they faced, it was always worth it to achieve their goals and advance in their careers. No one person’s experience is the same, but there are often others who are going through similar struggles and talking about them will help other women in STEM realize they are not alone and continue to encourage them and stay motivated to go after their goals.

With navigating the complexities of STEM fields, President Maric shares her wisdom for women to stay motivated despite any challenges one might face: “You are who you believe you are. Don’t compare yourself to others. I compare myself to the Radenka of yesterday and Radenka of tomorrow.”

Author: Matheou’s Art, Inspired by Fluid Dynamics, on Display at National Academy of Sciences

Clouds strongly interact with solar radiation and as a result small changes in cloud cover have big impact on the Earth’s surface temperature. Currently, the effects of clouds are one of the largest sources of uncertainty in climate projections.

Recent computer technology, however, is enabling scientists and engineers to create cloud simulations in controlled environments.

Georgios Matheou, associate professor of mechanical engineering in the School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Manufacturing Engineering, is using a mathematical model called large-eddy simulation to replicate cloud physics and create cloud models. These simulations help improve weather forecasts and climate projections while contributing to the field of fluid dynamics—a discipline that describes the flow of liquids and gases.

Matheou’s Art, Inspired by Fluid Dynamics, on Display at National Academy of Sciences

Author: Plug Power VP Inspires Engineering Students and Faculty with Talk on Decision Making in Corporate Research

January 13, 2024 | Jordan Baker, Center for Clean Energy Engineering

On Friday February 2^nd, Dr. Cortney Mittelsteadt presented a talk to UConn engineering students and faculty within the Center for Clean Energy Engineering (C2E2). Mittelsteadt who worked with Giner Inc, and later became CEO before becoming the Vice President of Electrolyzer Technology for Plug Power, shared stories of his work with various industry companies such as General Motors (GM), NASA, and the Department of Energy (DOE).

Dr. Cortney Mittelsteadt talking with graduate students after his talk in the Engineering Science Building. (Jordan Baker/UConn photo)

His talk, which prompted many questions from students and faculty, discussed the importance of decision making in corporate research and development while also providing examples of his own career in hydrogen fuel cell and electrolyzer technology. The talk gave students, both undergraduate and graduate, insight into what a career as a PhD scientist can look like outside of academia. He gave examples of projects that he worked on with GM, NASA, and the DOE while also sharing the technological issues he faced within these projects.

His examples provided insight into the exciting careers working in the hydrogen fuel cell industry and general knowledge of the business side in the industry. The technological and business challenges that he dealt with included technical issues with materials and large-scale fabrication, lab space expansion, funding limitations, competitive world of business, to name just a few. He showed the strength that an image or an “easy” story can have, while emphasizing the fact that there needs to be science and research behind it.

Mittelsteadt is now the Vice President of Electrolyzer Technology for Power Plug, an industry company that has a strong history of collaboration with UConn for several years. Dr. Jasna Jankovic, a faculty member within C2E2, said of the talk, “We are happy to host Dr. Cortney Mittelsteadt here at UConn. He brings immense knowledge and experience in both technical and business side of hydrogen technologies. We have been collaborating with Dr. Mittelsteadt and Plug Power for many years now, and they have always been great partners to UConn, supporters of our initiatives, and mentors to our students.”

UConn and Plug Power have had a strong history of collaboration between faculty and students alike. Dr. Mittelsteadt’s talk was a powerful addition to this relationship. Mariah Batool, a graduate student within the Materials Science and Engineering Department and C2E2, said of the talk, “Dr. Mittelsteadt highlighted the hurdles and gaps between the inception of research ideas, large-scale production considerations and process of securing financial backing. It was reassuring to see that despite numerous challenges, with passion, commitment, and hard work, Plug Power continues to make remarkable progress and demonstrate excellence in leading Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) technologies. The ongoing collaboration between UConn and Plug Power, offers promising opportunity to graduate students to expand their knowledge, learn from one of the market’s leaders of PEM technology, and foster strong academic-industry linkage.”

The faculty and students in attendance received an inspiring story of challenges and solutions in the growing field of the clean energy industry. These stories will help aid students (and even faculty) in their own careers and motivate them to continue to foster their passion for the science and push through any challenges.

Dr. Cortney Mittelsteadt talking with faculty member Prof. Jeff McCutcheon (Jordan Baker/UConn photo)

Author: UConn Graduate Student Awarded 2023 NASA CT Space Grant Consortium Graduate Research Fellowship

January 10, 2024 | Jordan Baker, Center for Clean Energy Engineering

Graduate student, Alanna Gado, has recently been awarded the NASA CT Space Grant Consortium Graduate Research Fellowship. Gado, who is a graduate research assistant within the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, as well as a member of the Center for Clean Energy Engineering (C2E2), has recently been awarded this fellowship of $10,000 for her project, “High Efficiency and High Durability Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzers for Hydrogen Production with Advanced Catalyst Coated Membranes.”

Her research focusses on developing an efficient and durable perfluorosulfonic acid (PSFA)-free proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolyzer with a low hydrogen crossover. Reduction strategies are needed to keep the hydrogen level below the flammability limit to improve the safety of PEM water electrolyzer. Gado plans to use a hydrocarbon membrane with a dual platinum recombination layer to achieve better thermal and mechanical stability. This will help to minimize hydrogen crossover and ensure safety, efficiency, and durability.

With her research, Gado hopes to show the variety of applications that electrochemistry has. “Typically, we hear about the environmental benefits of electrochemical systems like fuel cells, electrolyzers, batteries, etc. over traditional combustion systems. Electrochemistry is cool because it can also be used in self-sustaining systems, like in space exploration.” Gado said. This is where her research comes in to play where her plans to develop a PEM water electrolyzer, will help support space exploration and NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD), which is a constituent of the NASA CT Space Grant Consortium fellowships. “Alanna is applying the technology base that is currently available and for commercial products on earth and adjusting the design so that it meets the requirements of space”, Leonard Bonville said of Alanna’s research, highlighting the vastness of electrochemistry and its uses to help the environment.

Not only does her project support the initiatives of NASA’s STMD, but it works to supply solutions to global problems about climate change and sustainability while also applying them to space. Her advisor, Dr. Radenka Maric, said of her work, “Bringing highly efficient and environmentally sustainable fuel cell technologies to space applications is so important for our future. Alanna is a hardworking problem solver, and she likes technical challenges. The NASA project reflects her commitment to addressing tough climate change problems through clean energy technologies. I look forward to supervising her work on this project.”

Gado began her work in December 2023 and will conclude in June 2024. She began preparing for her project by reading literature that will aid in her research. Gado will be conducting her research at C2E2 with technical support from her advisors Dr. Radenka Maric and Mr. Leonard Bonville.

Ms. Alanna Gado and Mr. Leonard Bonville working at the Center for Clean Energy Engineering.(Terry Barber-Tournaud/UConn photo)

Author: UConn Adopts Ambitious 10-Year Strategic Plan

UConn has launched the steps to implement a far-reaching 10-year strategic plan built on the pillars of promoting holistic student success, expanding the University’s research impact, and using its strengths to help Connecticut thrive.

The new plan, which goes into effect next year and covers the period through 2034, includes six initiatives to support those pillars and 30 priority actions. It is student-centered at its core, organizers say, while also promoting investment in UConn’s research enterprise and prioritizing fiscal responsibility and stewardship of resources.

It also includes four key performance indicators (KPIs) for which UConn will strive, with many others to be added in 2024 to achieve the specific initiatives named in the plan. The four KPIs, as identified by President Radenka Maric, are:

• Reach and consistently maintain a six-year graduation rate of 90% or more. Currently, about 83% of UConn’s students graduate within six years. While that is notably higher than the national average of 62.2%, it ranks 25th among public universities.

UConn Adopts Ambitious 10-Year Strategic Plan

Author: UConn Earns High Marks in Global Sustainable University Ratings

UConn was ranked as the 9th most sustainable university in the world by UI GreenMetric, an international sustainability scoring system that reviews over a thousand educational institutions.

GreenMetric ranks higher education institutions based on six categories: settings and infrastructure, energy and climate change, waste, water, transportation, and education and research. There are 1,050 universities from 85 countries that participate. It was founded in 2010 out of the University of Indonesia.

UConn also ranked as the second most sustainable university in the country, beat by only the University of California, Davis, which charted at number five globally. Worldwide, the most sustainable institutions are Wageningen University in the Netherlands, Nottingham Trent University in the United Kingdom, and Umwelt-Campus Birkenfeld in Germany.

UConn Earns High Marks in Global Sustainable University Ratings

Author: UConn’s Growing Research Strength Reflected in HERD Survey Rankings

UConn’s rankings have leapt in the National Science Foundation (NSF) survey that measures colleges and universities according to their expenditures in research and development.

NSF’s Center for Science and Engineering Statistics surveyed more than 900 schools across the country that spent more than $150,000 in research expenditures during the 2022 fiscal year. The data are compiled into the annual Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) Survey.

In the most recent survey, UConn jumped to 79^th in overall expenditures, moving up nine spots from 88^th in the 2021 fiscal year. The University’s total research expenditures in fiscal year 2022 increased more than $64 million over the previous year, hitting a record $367.6 million invested in research and development.

UConn’s Growing Research Strength Reflected in HERD Survey Rankings

Author: Microalgae for Poultry Nutrition: UConn Researchers Receive NSF Future Manufacturing Grant

Ateam of UConn researchers is developing a natural alternative to produce an essential amino acid used in poultry feed with support from a $500,000 grant from the National Science Foundation’s Future Manufacturing initiative.

The team is led by Mingyu Qiao, assistant professor of innovation and entrepreneurship in the Department of Nutritional Sciences in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR). The team includes three faculty members from the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering: Yu Lei, centennial professor, Yongku Cho, associate professor and Burcu Beykal, assistant professor; and two other faculty members within CAHNR: Yangchao Luo, associate professor of nutritional sciences, and Rigoberto Lopez, professor of agricultural and resources economics.

This project is also in collaboration with Patrick Heidkamp, professor of environment, geography, and marine sciences at Southern Connecticut State University.

This marks the first time UConn has received this grant and is Qiao’s first grant since joining the UConn faculty earlier this year.

The group will develop a novel biomanufacturing technique to produce an essential amino acid called methionine (Met).

Microalgae for Poultry Nutrition: UConn Researchers Receive NSF Future Manufacturing Grant

Author: Chih-Jen (Jackie) Sung receives the 2024 AIAA Energy Systems Award

Prof. Jackie Sung was awarded the 2024 AIAA Energy Systems Award for his significant contribution in the broad field of energy systems, and specifically for his outstanding contributions to flame dynamics and low-temperature chemistry for developing fuel-flexible, ultra-low emission, efficient combustion energy systems using conventional and alternative fuels.

He will be recognized during the 2024 AIAA SCITECH Forum, 8-12 January 2024 in Orlando, FL. The prestigious award is sponsored by the AIAA Terrestrial Energy Systems.

Chih-Jen (Jackie) Sung receives the 2024 AIAA Energy Systems Award | UConn School of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Manufacturing Engineering MAEM Website

Author: UConn Students to University: Divest From Fossil Fuels. ‘Climate Change is Here.’

STORRS 07/18/13 View of the UConn campus. MARK MIRKO|mmirko@courant.com

After obtaining more than 1,000 online signatures of support within two weeks, a group of students at the University of Connecticut pleaded with university officials to commit to a plan for divesting from fossil fuels and work toward decarbonizing the campus.

“Our continued dependence on fossil fuels for our energy needs … directly undermines our human rights mission and university mission statement — more broadly — by denying members of our global community their right to a safe and healthy environment,” Nell Srinath, a senior political science and journalism student, said at the Board of Trustees meeting this week.

“The university mission statement states the goal of enhancing social, economic, cultural and natural environments of the state and beyond. I hope you realize as well that it is impossible to fulfill these commitments if we’re not fully doing our part to eliminate carbon emissions.”

Download full article | View Full Original Hartford Courant Article

By Jessika Harkay | CT Mirror
PUBLISHED: September 28, 2023 at 6:45 a.m. | UPDATED: September 28, 2023 at 2:15 p.m.

Author: Action-oriented Symposium Connects Researchers to Encourage Collaboration for a Sustainable Environmental Future

Climate change is the biggest challenge humans have faced, and complex issues require collaboration and diverse solutions now. To foster the partnerships and action needed for a sustainable future, UConn researchers convened to share their expertise in the Securing a Sustainable Environmental Future Symposium in October.

Ashley Helton, symposium co-lead organizer, deputy director of the Institute of the Environment, and associate professor in the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, explains that the idea for the symposium came together when deans from the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and the School of Engineering met with the leadership of the Institute of the Environment and Distinguished Research Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Emeritus President of the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Gene Likens, and they collectively realized the need to promote more collaboration for action.

“Together we decided that a symposium highlighting faculty members from across the University, existing research, and the potential for interdisciplinary collaboration across the colleges in the realms of environment and sustainability would be a good idea to explore at this critical juncture for humans and Earth,” she says.

Action-oriented Symposium Connects Researchers to Encourage Collaboration for a Sustainable Environmental Future

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