More than 50 UC Berkeley energy research projects on display
October 1, 2012 – Berkeley, Calif. – The largest student-run energy event in the West will convene on October 18 and 19 to examine the tensions driving innovation, investment and policy in energy. The Berkeley Energy and Resources Collaborative (BERC) will host the annual BERC Symposium on the campus of UC Berkeley.
Two keynotes and a range of panel discussions on October 19 will examine technical drivers, policy challenges and business forces in energy. “We focused on the tensions because the energy industry is so interdisciplinary and complex,” said BERC co-president and MBA student Joshua Lich. “As the energy industry undergoes disruptive changes, it is increasingly important to have a true conversation between policy, business and technology practitioners.”
The Innovation Expo on Thursday, October 18, will offer a unique opportunity to see cutting edge research and meet student researchers from a range of disciplines. Students will present more than 50 research projects on topics such as organic photovoltaic performance, microgrid incentives, and flow batteries.
“BERC connects all areas of the Berkeley energy and resources community; from early-stage research, to established companies, policymakers, and investors” said BERC co-president and PhD student Alex Luce. The event will showcase early-stage research and emerging Bay-Area cleantech startups, and also features 5 national labs. “This is the only event west of Boston where you can see and learn about more than 50 current university energy research projects in the same place.”
The morning keynote on the 19th will be presented by Dan Arvizu, the director of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). NREL is the Department of Energy’s premier research and development facility for renewable energy and energy efficiency technology. Arvizu also serves on the governing board of the National Science Foundation and the national science policy advisory board to the President and Congress.
The afternoon keynote will be presented by Richard Kauffman, senior adviser to the U.S. Secretary of Energy. Before joining the Department of Energy, Kauffman invested in renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies as the CEO of Good Energies.
Panel discussions will cover energy subsidies, shale gas, carbon capture and sequestration, energy efficiency and U.S.-China energy relations. A full listing of panels is available online.
Early-bird tickets are available until October 8, and the event is expected to sell out. Tickets can be purchased at http://berc.berkeley.edu/symposium-2012/.
About BERC
The Berkeley Energy & Resources Collaborative (BERC) is a multidisciplinary network of students, alumni, faculty, industry professionals and advisors at UC Berkeley. We seek to turn world-leading research into world-changing solutions by tackling tough and timely energy and environmental challenges. BERC’s mission is to connect, educate, and engage its members in order to foster innovation and action.
We connect nearly 3,000 members as a part of a broad, cross-disciplinary network of students, faculty and professionals in energy and resources; educate students about cutting edge work in energy and resources through events, lectures, and treks; and engage members by providing opportunities to collaborate on real-world projects.