The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) launched its second century of scientific advancement with an event at Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Science Center on October 13, A Century of Science: NETL Launches the Next 100 Years of Energy Innovation.  In conjunction with this event, NETL highlighted a collaborative partnership between five regional universities and NETL called the NETL-Regional University Alliance (NETL-RUA) and dedicated a new science exhibit, The Energy Challenge, which will remain on display at the Carnegie Science Center for the next several years.

NETL Director Anthony Cugini welcomes guests to A Century of Science, including (pictured left to right) ASFE James Markowsky, WVU President James Clements, CMU Vice President of Research Richard McCullough, Pitt Chancellor Mark Nordenberg, Penn State President Graham Spanier, and VT President Charles Steger.

NETL-RUA is a partnership between NETL and Carnegie-Mellon University; Penn State University; University of Pittsburgh; Virginia Tech; and West Virginia University.  This partnership provides a unique approach that enables hundreds of students, scientists, and engineers at NETL and its university partners to work side-by-side to leverage facilities and intellectual power, fostering discovery and innovative energy technology solutions to meet the stringent requirements of the Nation’s growing energy needs.  Inherent in its operations and beyond technology research and development, NETL-RUA continually educates and trains the next generation of energy scientists and engineers required to maintain the United States as a leader in energy technology innovation.

During the event’s opening ceremonies, Dr. Anthony Cugini, Director of NETL, spoke enthusiastically of the “Shared Laboratories, Shared Intellect, Shared Resources” concept of NETL-RUA, saying that “it promises advanced energy technologies and growth in our regional and national economies.  It promises high-tech jobs for our Nation’s engineers and scientists.  And it promises the education of a new generation of researchers and entrepreneurs who are passionate about pursuing sustainable energy sources for our children and our children’s children.”  He highlighted the benefits of partnership and the importance of involving a wide range of complementary skills, facilities, and ideas to solve the Nation’s energy challenges quickly and effectively.  Through its collaborative efforts, the Alliance will produce greater results than the individual organizations could have achieved acting alone.

Representatives from all five NETL-RUA university partners were on hand for the launch—Dr. James P. Clements, President of WVU; Dr. Mark A. Nordenberg, Chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh; Dr. Graham Spanier, President of Penn State; Dr. Charles Steger, President of Virginia Tech; and Dr. Richard McCullough, Vice President of Research at Carnegie Mellon University.

 Dr. James Markowsky, DOE’s Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy also joined the commencement.  Markowsky praised the project, stating that “the Regional University Alliance will certainly benefit from NETL’s expertise in the laboratory, its project management experience, and its understanding of demonstration and technology transfer and commercialization.  I congratulate Carnegie Mellon, Pitt, Penn State, Virginia Tech, and WVU for joining NETL—and each other—in meeting head-on today’s energy challenges.”

A panel discussion on “The Role of NETL and Its Collaborations in Developing Innovative Technology and Promoting Economic Development” allowed the five university representatives, Cugini, and Markowsky to talk about energy—past, present, and future.  Along with Dr. Cynthia Powell, NETL’s Director of Onsite Research and Development, Bill Flanagan from Allegheny Conference, and Tom Buell of Global Pittsburgh, the panel discussed how to best ensure secure, reliable, and affordable energy supplies for the coming decades. 

For more information about NETL-RUA, please visit http://www.netl.doe.gov/rua/. A recording of the full A Century of Science event can be seen on YouTube.

NETL welcomed several special guests to A Century of Science, many of whom congratulated NETL on the recent celebration of its 100-year anniversary.

U.S. Representatives Mike Doyle and Tim Murphy presented NETL Director Anthony Cugini with a special Congressional proclamation, “In recognition of the 100th Anniversary of the National Energy Technology Laboratory.” Congressman Murphy commended NETL’s “100 great years of research,” adding that it will quickly compound with the addition of “NETL-RUA’s tremendous universities. We look forward to great things coming from this partnership.”

Others in attendance included a representative from Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Revanstahl’s Office—Lindsay Baxter, Sustainability Coordinator.  OmniProx was represented by Bob DiGioia, Robert Petrilli, and Aaron Tan.  Representatives from some of NETL’s international research partners rounded out the guest list—Dr. Xinhe Bao, President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Dr. Aleksander Sobolewski, Deputy Director of Poland’s Institute for Chemical Processing of Coal.  

	Marshall Middle School Science Bowl team captain Mike Becich cuts the red ribbon on the Energy Challenge, NETL’s new energy science exhibit at the Carnegie Science Center.

In the final part of the celebration, NETL and the Carnegie Science Center dedicated the Energy Challenge, an energy quiz game that is a new permanent exhibit at the center.  The exhibit was dedicated by Ron Baillie and Ann Metzger, Co-Directors of the Carnegie Science Center; NETL’s Deputy Director Scott Klara; and the Marshall Middle School Science Bowl Team of Wexford, PA.  The Marshall team, who won last year’s middle school Southwestern Pennsylvania Science Bowl competition, kicked off the Energy Challenge as the game’s first contestants.  Once the dedication speeches were finished and the exhibit was revealed, competition heated up among the Marshall teammates as they vied for the first place spot in the game.

The game pits two players against each other, allowing them to buzz in to answer multiple choice questions on a wide range of energy topics.  Once a question flashes up on the screen, participants race each other to decide which of the four answers is correct.  Some questions reveal a fun energy fact after the correct answer is displayed.  Designed to teach kids about the science of energy, the exhibit makes learning fun, drawing students in with its game show-style presentation and animated videos.  It’s not just for the kids, though. High school-level questions provide a challenge for adults as they recall scientists and energy concepts and learn about new ones.

Markowsky commended NETL’s effort in creating the Energy Challenge game, which encourages children to start “thinking like engineers, thinking like scientists, thinking about the importance of energy to our daily lives.”  The exhibit is important to the Pittsburgh region where universities and a rich energy supply are already a draw to industry.  The Energy Challenge serves as a reminder of the unique collaboration of education, business, and government available in this region.

NETL greatly appreciates the work put forth by Carnegie Science Center and OmniProx, LLC, for hosting the event and for partnering in its design and construction. This collaboration has brought about yet another first for the Pittsburgh region, one that will help get children involved early in thinking about careers in science and engineering.  It also serves to remind adults and children alike of the importance of energy in our daily lives, how energy works, and how we can conserve and reduce our energy use.