They're All Revved Up
Renewable Energy
By Brian Salgado   
Wednesday, 01 August 2007
smc Alternative energy technologies are inspiring the next generation of engineers and business professionals.
Alternative energy technologies are inspiring the next generation of engineers and business professionals.
In his State of the Union address Jan. 23, President Bush commented extensively on the need for the United States to reduce its dependence on foreign oil through the use of alternative energy sources. The president threw down the gauntlet, calling for a reduction of gasoline usage by 20 percent in the next 10 years, as well as conserving 8.5 billion gallons of gasoline by 2017.

“America is on the verge of technological breakthroughs that will enable us to live our lives less dependent on oil,” Bush said. “And these technologies will help us be better stewards of the environment, and they will help us to confront the serious challenge of the global climate change.”

College students have taken notice and are looking into careers in the alternative energy sectors, including biodiesel, wind and solar power. Other unorthodox sources, such as sugars, algae and animal fats, are also gaining in interest. U.S. universities are adding new courses on clean energy technologies and the environment to meet this surge in interest.

The number of undergraduates at the University of California at Berkeley enrolled in introductory energy courses has almost tripled, Reuters reported. A new graduate class in solar photovoltaics has signed up 70 students, the largest course in recent memory at the school’s College of Engineering.

Arizona State University (ASU) is also expanding to accommodate the growth of the alternative energy sector. In April, the ASU Electronic Systems Department at the Polytechnic campus in Mesa was awarded a $900,000 National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to develop alternative energy programs and courses in conjunction with community colleges in Arizona and Texas.

Lakshmi Munukutla, Ph.D., chair of the Electronic Systems Department at the Polytechnic campus, said there is a high demand from utility companies and other corporations for business-ready graduates to work in these sectors. And the demand will only continue to grow.

“Many different sectors of alternative energy will grow,” she said. “Once our graduates are ready to hit the ground, they will be hitting the prime time of this industry.”

ASU’s NSF funding will be devoted to the Arizona-Texas Consortium for Alternative and Renewable Energy Technologies Advanced Technological Education (ATE) Project. The ATE Project, according to ASU, will help develop programs that better prepare and increase the number of students completing associate of applied science degrees, certificate programs and bachelor’s degrees to meet the work force needs of the energy, transportation and electronics industries.

ASU is partnering with three community colleges – Austin (Texas) Community College, Mesa Community College and Pima Community College in Tucson, Ariz. – that will offer 100- and 200-level classes, while ASU will focus on upper-level courses. Munukutla noted ASU has already brought in Slobodan Petrovic, Ph.D., an expert in energy systems and fuel cells and batteries; Govindasamy Tamizhmani, Ph.D., solar cells; and A.M. Kannan, Ph.D., fuel cells and lithium batteries, for the program.
 
< Previous Story   Next Story >