A Century of Science: NETL-RUA Launches the Next 100 Years of Energy Innovation

Photo courtesy of the Carnegie Science Center

October 13, 2010, promises to be an exciting day for the Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL).  On the occasion of our 100-year anniversary, NETL will host the launch of the NETL-Regional University Alliance (NETL-RUA), a partnership between NETL and five regional universities dedicated to developing and deploying advanced energy technologies. The launch will be celebrated in conjunction with the debut of NETL’s new Energy Challenge exhibit at the Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh.

Visitors to the Science Center are invited to attend these energy activities. The program will kick off at 1 p.m. with a welcome from NETL Director Anthony Cugini and opening remarks from DOE Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy James Markowsky and U.S. Representatives Mike Doyle and Tim Murphy. An energy panel discussion will begin at 1:30 p.m., followed by a viewing of NETL’s 100-year anniversary video at 2:45 p.m. and the Energy Challenge dedication at 3 p.m. NETL-RUA combines the best qualities of two fascinating worlds: NETL’s fossil energy expertise and the academic capabilities of five prominent universities—Carnegie Mellon University, Penn State, the University of Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech, and West Virginia University.  Collaboration often results in a more robust research effort because each team member brings its strongest skill set to the table; NETL-RUA is no exception. The partnership will leverage resources such as existing facilities, specialty equipment, and professional staff to accelerate the commercialization of next-generation technologies. In addition, as NETL-RUA focuses on technology innovations to resolve our Nation’s energy and environmental challenges, the Alliance will invigorate regional and national economies by providing new high-tech and manufacturing jobs. In anticipation of the October 13th launch, the new NETL-RUA website went live on Monday, October 4.

Beginning at 1:30 p.m., NETL’s Acting Director of Research and Development Cynthia Powell will moderate an energy panel titled “The Role of NETL and Its Collaboration in Developing Innovative Technology and Promoting Economic Development.” Panel members will include NETL Director Anthony Cugini, the five NETL-RUA university heads, and representatives from GlobalPittsburgh and the Allegheny Conference on Community Development. Dignitaries from Poland and China will also attend the event.

Following the panel discussion, NETL will screen a short film about its century of energy research. During the past 100 years, our mission has evolved to meet national energy needs. We have addressed such diverse challenges as mine safety, air quality, energy efficiency, low-impact coal utilization, and the recovery of hard-to-reach domestic oil and natural gas supplies. Yet as energy perspectives have changed, so has NETL’s focus. We now look forward to managing industrial carbon emissions, modernizing the nation’s electric grid, developing non-traditional fuel resources, and realizing truly sustainable energy use. A web page celebrating 100 years of NETL’s research accomplishments has been established where visitors can watch the anniversary video, visit the NETL timeline, peruse the book NETL: A Century of Innovation, and search the NETL photo vault.

After the video screening, the Energy Challenge, an interactive quiz for kids (and adults, too!), will be dedicated by NETL Deputy Director Scott Klara. Wexford’s Marshall Middle School Science Bowl Team, who won the 2010 Southwestern PA Middle School Science Bowl, will serve as the game’s first contestants. The Energy Challenge will pit two individual players against each other as they buzz in their answers on multiple-choice questions. Questions are grouped in three education levels: kindergarten through fourth grade, fifth through eighth grade, and high school. The kiosk will also feature fun facts about types of energy, how energy is produced and used, and energy efficiency, conservation, and safety.

Please join NETL for an exciting afternoon at the Carnegie Science Center. Sit in on the energy panel to hear industry leaders share their thoughts on national and global energy issues. Watch 100 years of energy history unfold as NETL reveals how domestic energy needs have changed over the past century and how they will continue to change in years to come. Learn about NETL-RUA, what drives its energy research, and how the Alliance will shape our region’s energy future. Most importantly, find out how you, too, can be an “energy scientist.”