Forum Designed to Accelerate Renewable Energy Technologies by Addressing Measurements at the Nanoscale

NIST, NREL, ASME and CNSE to jointly present April 26-28 forum designed to accelerate renewable energy technologies by addressing measurements at the nanoscale

The acceleration of nanoscale solutions to enable clean and renewable energy applications is the theme of a first-ever global conference to be held next week at the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering ("CNSE") of the University at Albany, presented jointly by CNSE, the National Institute of Standards and Technology ("NIST"), the National Renewable Energy Laboratory ("NREL"), and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers ("ASME").

The Nanoscale Measurement Challenges for Energy Applications Global Workshop, to be held April 26 through 28 at CNSE's Albany NanoTech Complex, will feature presentations and discussions involving a host of leading industry and university researchers. The forum focuses on improving the measurement of properties at the nanoscale for use in a variety of alternative energy technologies - including solar photovoltaics, energy storage, solid state lighting, and organic light-emitting diodes ("OLEDs") - low-cost energy production, and increased energy efficiency.

The event's keynote speaker will be Mark M. Little, Senior Vice President and Director of GE Global Research ("GE Global"), whose presentation is entitled An Overview of the Technology & Business Climate. As the ninth director in GE Global's 105-year history, Little is responsible for leading one of the world's largest and most diversified industrial research and technology organizations.

Dr. Alain E. Kaloyeros, Senior Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of CNSE, said, "The UAlbany NanoCollege is delighted to work in partnership with our colleagues at NIST, NREL and ASME to host this timely and important global forum. By exploring innovative nanoscale solutions that support the integration and use of clean and renewable energy technologies, this event further demonstrates the enabling power of nanotechnology to address the most critical issues facing society in the 21st century."

Co-Chair Dr. John Elter, Empire Innovation Professor of Nanoengineering and Executive Director of CNSE's Center for Sustainable Ecosystem Nanotechnologies, said, "It is clear that the solutions to sustainable energy challenges begin at the nanoscale. This first-ever workshop provides a unique platform for industry, academia and government to participate in high-level discussions to address both the challenges and opportunities of nanoscale measurement for clean and renewable energy applications."

Co-Chair Dr. J. Alexander Liddle, who leads the Nanofabrication Research Group at NIST's Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, said, "Nanotechnology is the key to the development and implementation of alternative energy solutions. We are pleased to work with global leaders in CNSE, NREL and ASME to further enhance renewable energy technologies by addressing the critical need to develop new and improved means of measuring at the nanoscale."

Co-Chair Dr. Mowafak Al-Jassim, NREL principal scientist and group leader, said, "Renewable energy technologies and increased energy efficiency are vitally dependent on innovations, such as those developed through the use of nanotechnology. I look forward to collaborating with world-leading nanotechnology institutions CNSE, NIST and ASME to advance discussions and begin to accelerate nanoscale solutions for energy applications."

The workshop will address the challenges of nanoscale measurement while providing an invaluable forum for attendees to participate in relevant discussions. A complete agenda for the event is available at www.asmeconferences.org/NanoMeasurement09/index.cfm.