The E&EM Program at GW and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (Washington, D.C. Office) have initiated partnership activities in areas such as cooperative research projects, internships, and joint seminars. E&EM graduate students at various stages in their research, E&EM lead professor Dr. Jonathan Deason and other faculty members interested in energy issues have had several meetings to get acquainted and to discuss potential joint efforts.
Currently, two E&EM students are interning at the Washington, D.C. office of NREL. Elvin Yuzugullu, a doctoral student in the program, is working on managing a database (REPiS - Renewable Electric Plant Information System) of grid-connected renewable electricity plants in the U.S. Eva Urbatsch, who recently received her Master's degree, works on federal water and energy conservation issues.
Following one of their meetings, GW faculty and students joined NREL analysts at one of their monthly brownbag lunch seminars on energy issues. The guest speaker was Dr. Stephen Bernow, Vice President of the Tellus Institute. He gave a very interesting presentation on "Challenges in Researching the Transition to a Hydrogen Economy." Dr. Bernow's research focuses on integrating current knowledge on hydrogen production technologies and incorporating this knowledge into scenarios for transitioning to a hydrogen economy in different urban areas.
E&EM Faculty and students will continue their interactions with NREL for productive joint activities together in the near future and further years.