Conference seeks to shine a light on twenty-first-century energy solutions

The Northeastern University Center for Renewable Energy Technology (NUCRET) is preparing to host an international symposium titled “Energy Challenges for the New Millennium,” featuring forums, scientific sessions and educational outreach programs.

Running from April 27 to 29, the event will draw expert speakers, including the Honorable Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, former president of India; Dr. John P. Holdren, science adviser to U.S. president Barack Obama; and senior leaders from a variety of energy companies and government agencies.

Scientific sessions will look at such issues as nanoscience and nanotechnology, renewable energy technology and clean-energy materials challenges. Lectures and panels will address energy policy and entrepreneurship, and investment in renewable-energy technology, with special attention given to how these issues are being affected by the current economic climate.

Speakers will discuss scientific and technological solutions within the context of energy-resource policies, politics and economics that are becoming increasingly global. Other global challenges will be explored as well, including increased competition for resources from emerging demographically rich countries such as China, India and Brazil, and new evidence that supports the need to control greenhouse gas emissions.

In addition to Drs. Kalam and Holdren, scheduled panelists and guests include Dr. Radha Jalan, CEO of ElectroChem; Brad Bradshaw, interim CEO, Hy9 Corporation, and president, Massachusetts Hydrogen Coalition; Philip Giudice, commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources; Karl Jessen, economic development officer, Massachusetts Technology Collaborative Renewable Energy Trust; Dr. Linda Plano, chair, Ignite Clean Energy Forum, and associate director, Massachusetts Technology Transfer Center; Edward Kurth, CEO, GCK Technology, and vice president, Lucid Energy Technologies; Rick Hess, CEO and president, Konarka Technologies; and William Osborn, founding partner, Massachusetts Green Energy Fund.

Working closely with collaborators around the world, NUCRET is a research and education center dedicated to developing a suite of green-energy technologies that will help meet global needs for clean energy and water.

The symposium is free and open to the public. For more information on NUCRET, visit www.northeastern.edu/nucret, or go to http://www.northeastern.edu/cas/registration.html to register for the conference.