2008 - 2009 Science and Technology Series
Locations and Dates: Energy and the Environment

Location

University of Delaware – Newark, DE
The University of Delaware (UD) is at the forefront of interdisciplinary research in alternative energy, both from an engineering standpoint and environmental policies. UD researchers have created the vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology, designed increasingly more efficient fuel cell technologies, and engineered novel nanomaterial coatings to reduce drag on ships in water. Currently, they are developing ways to harness ocean power as well as off-shore wind power. Among UD’s world-renowned research centers contributing to great strides in alternative energy are the Center for Composite Materials, the Center for Catalytic Science and Technology, and the Institute for Energy Conversion, a leader in solar cell research. UD faculty and students will introduce a variety of hands-on activities to CTY families that will spark interest in the future of Energy and the Environment!

 Saturday,
 October 4,
 2008

Drexel University – Philadelphia, PA
Drexel University is committed to reducing its environmental impact through responsible energy use, waste reduction, recycling, sustainable building design, and operations. Drexel researchers are focusing on issues in urban agriculture, sustainability and green building design, disaster and emergency preparedness, public health, alternative energy sources, “green” materials, and much more. Participants will have the opportunity to hear from Drexel professors and students about the ways they are trying to preserve the environment and create awareness of these issues.

University of Massachusetts Amherst – Amherst, MA
Energy research is a major investigative thrust area at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Researchers from the School of Management and the Colleges of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Engineering, and Natural Resources and Environment collaboratively work on problems related to energy science, economics, and policy. Students will have the opportunity to participate in hands-on experiments related to energy research and see advanced equipment and facilities for energy research at UMass Amherst.

California Institute of Technology – Pasadena, CA
Our theme for this day will be “Powering the Planet.” To many of the world’s leading scientists and engineers, powering the planet is the challenge of the century. Looking far beyond fear and failure, they envision an epoch of global prosperity and stability, propelled by new technologies, new materials, and new ideas. Join researchers from the Caltech Center for Sustainable Energy Research and the Center for the Science and Engineering of Materials for a day-long exploration of the challenges, promises, and risks associated with powering the planet.

Boston University – Boston, MA
Changes in the global environment, including alterations in climate, land cover, oceans or other water resources, atmospheric chemistry, and ecological systems may alter the capacity of Earth to sustain life. This program will focus on how geospatial technologies are used to analyze and model the global change process. Boston University faculty and students will introduce geospatial technologies such as “Google Earth” and satellite imagery and discuss the applications of these technologies in mapping global land cover, modeling earth system processes, and predicting the path of a hurricane or tornado. Researchers will also discuss the implication of global change on habitats, climate change, ecosystems, and natural resources. Workshops will highlight the topic of the energy needs of a growing global population and its environmental impacts. Students will have the opportunity to participate in a geocaching game.

Rutgers University – New Brunswick, NJ
Alternative energy and efficiency optimization are at the forefront of the national energy debate. World political discussion has recently focused on unintended food shortages that may be associated with larger uses of corn for ethanol production. Oil price increases have had domino-effect impacts on prices of food and commodities as well as transportation. Acquiring a broader range of low-carbon-output energy sources is critically important to keep our environment stable for the long-term future. Workshops will highlight a number of alternative energy sources and research efforts that are underway to understand and improve our energy situation. Rutgers University has state-of-the-art laboratories that make and characterize nanoscale materials for a number of energy applications ranging from photovoltaics, biofuels, fuel cells, hydrogen storage, wind generation, and other options.

University of California Berkeley – Berkeley, CA
The University of California has been called the nation’s “hotspot” for renewable energy research. Exciting and stimulating activities will be offered to CTY participants, led by faculty and graduate students from a number of leading research centers in the area of Energy and the Environment. Participants will include the Berkeley Nanosciences and Nanoengineering Institute, the Center of Integrated Nanomechanical Systems, the Joint BioEnergy Institute, the California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, and the Synthetic Biology Engineering Research Center. Also joining in this effort will be the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s Center for Science and Engineering Education.

 Saturday,
 March 7,
 2009

Virginia Polytechnic Institute – Blacksburg, VA
Energy use and supply is of fundamental importance to society and has had one of the greatest impacts on the environment of any human activity. Join Virginia Tech scientists and engineers in a program that will explore the topics of energy and the environment. Learn more about conventional energy sources and the emerging sources of the future, along with their environmental and ecological impacts. Find out the size of your carbon footprint and how you can help build a sustainable future!

 Sunday,
 March 22,
 2009

American University – Washington, DC
What would the world look like if all the energy we needed and wanted was free and without limits? While this may be wishful thinking, it does serve to remind us of the importance of energy in our lives and the environmental consequences of our unremitting energy appetite. However, energy use and environmental health do not have to be at odds and, indeed, wise and sustainable approaches are possible. At American University, participants will learn about and participate in activities that illustrate the challenges of moving towards a more sustainable energy and environmental future.

 Spring 2009
 (exact date TBA; 
 check back soon)

2008 - 2009 Science and Technology Series
Locations and Dates: Robotics

Location

University of Pennsylvania – Philadelphia, PA
In today’s fast-paced growth and development of robotics, the design of new machines and devices has embraced new discoveries in a great variety of areas, including nanoscale systems and materials, bio-inspired approaches, and advanced control systems. Robotics research at Penn serves as a major contributor in these new discoveries and applications. Robots are used today to perform surgeries, discover new drugs, serve as security guards, vacuum our carpets, and mow our lawns. The Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, have answered deep scientific questions about Mars and extraterrestrial life, opening up avenues for space exploration that were not possible twenty years ago. This program will provide you with an overview of the state-of-the-art in robotics and the internationally-known GRASP Laboratory at Penn. It will provide you with a learning experience in modern robotics during which you will work on your own device! The day will culminate in a Tournament of the Robots for you and your family to enjoy.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology – Cambridge, MA
MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) conducts cutting-edge, long-term research and education in robotics. This research addresses fundamental problems in designing more capable robots and controlling them to interact intelligently with people, the environment, and each other. Researchers also explore how increased capability and intelligence can enable new societal benefits through applications in homes, fields, oceans, and outer space. Research, both basic and applied, inspires the development of material aimed at training students in robotics and using robots to explore computation, sensing, and control. CSAIL Robotics faculty, students, and staff will introduce a variety of hands-on activities to CTY families that will educate and excite participants about the age of robotics.

Portland State University – Portland, OR
Our theme for this day will be “Robotics—Hands-On and Interactive: From Industrial Practice to Advanced Research.” Join us for a day of hands-on activities led by experts from around Oregon. Learn about machine vision, artificial intelligence, remote sensing, and autonomous behavior in a fun, engaging format featuring robots, both large and small.