Doctoral Student Kristin Deason recently visited California, Korea, Germany and Russia, and soon will be traveling to Australia to provide information about the latest research results on the utilization of hydrogen as a transportation fuel. Kristin’s first two trips were to Seoul, Korea, in June 2007 and Essen, Germany in February 2008, where she participated in meetings of the Implementation Liaison Committee of the International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy (IPHE) as part of her work with in support of the U.S. Department of Energy's Hydrogen Program. The IPHE, established in 2003, is a partnership of 17 countries that are committed to accelerating the development of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies to improve their energy security, environmental security and economic security.
In April 2008, Kristin traveled to Moscow, Russia to participate in a Steering Committee meeting of the IPHE, and also visited St. Petersburg, Russia. Her next IPHE trip, scheduled for June 2008, will be to Brisbane, Australia.
Kristin’s trips are part of her work as a Senior Analyst for Sentech, Inc. Her work with the IPHE includes developing outreach materials about renewable hydrogen projects worldwide and facilitating information sharing about hydrogen research activities across the various IPHE countries.
The IPHE provides a mechanism for partners to organize, coordinate and implement effective, efficient, and focused international research, development, demonstration and commercial utilization activities related to hydrogen and fuel cell technologies. The IPHE provides a forum for advancing policies, and common technical codes and standards that can accelerate the cost-effective transition to a hydrogen economy; and it educates and informs stakeholders and the general public on the benefits of, and challenges to, establishing the hydrogen economy. More information about the IPHE can be seen at www.iphe.net.
Kristin also recently attended the National Hydrogen Association conference in Sacramento, California where she was able to test drive several hydrogen vehicles. Subsequent to the test drive, she was featured on the GM website describing her driving experience. A video of Kristin in action can be seen at the following link:
http://www.gmnext.com/Videos.aspx?id=074c916e-b12f-4792-b3e5-6cd34cc96046.
Kristin said "it was very cool to drive a car that produces water vapor as its only byproduct. The performance was impressive and I am looking forward to seeing these vehicles available on the market."
