With Focus on the Future as the theme of DistribuTECH Conf & Expo 2016, who better to exemplify that theme than nearly 50 graduate and undergraduate students from the GEARED initiative (Grid Engineering for Accelerated Renewable Energy Deployment), a DOE SunShot initiative.
GEARED is educators, industry & government working to update and innovate curriculum for a modernized grid that supports significantly more distributed energy generation and educating the next generation skilled workforce to maintain it.
GEARED students from eight universities in the GEARED consortia (Auburn University; University of North Carolina/Charlotte; University of Central Florida; Florida State University; University of Florida; University of Pittsburgh; University of South Carolina; Iowa State) will present their research in power systems and distributed energy technologies in a poster session on display in booths 328 and 328 from February 9-11.
In addition to the poster session, two videos showcasing GEARED and produced by Pennwell will be unveiled at the conference. The videos feature students, educators and DOE officials talking about the benefits of the initiative. You can see the videos in the GEARED and Siemens booths (901), and in conference buses.
The large gathering of power systems professionals at DistribuTECH offers a remarkable opportunity to connect students and professionals to the technologies and skills needed to innovate and transform the grid. Global policies, like the Paris Agreement, the Clean Power Plan and extensions of the PTC and ITC, reinforce the urgency to develop innovative curriculum that bridges the skills gap and builds collaborative relationships between industry and education.
Come see how GEARED is re-imagining the 21st century power engineering workforce. See you (and Knightro) at DistribuTECH 2016!
Special GEARED events at DistribuTECH 2016:
Feb. 9th, 11am: Exhibit Hall Opening. Calling all GEARED students: make your way to the Siemens booth (901) for that selfie stick you’ve been wanting! You’ll appreciate having it as Knightro, the official UCF mascot, will be making a special appearance. Stick around to hear from Siemens executives from Germany and the U.S., Dr. Zhihua Qu, University of Central Florida SAIC Endowed Professor & Chair; Foundations for Engineering Education Distributed Energy Resources (FEEDER) Team Lead, and Matt Aberman, senior engineering student and member of the FEEDER Student Innovation Board who might lead a rousing rendition of the UCF chant. Posters on display in GEARED booths 328-329.
Feb. 10th Exhibit Hall: Student posters on display in GEARED booths 328-329.
Feb. 11th, 11am-12pm: Exhibit Hall Closing. Meet us in the Siemens booth (901) to hear from Dr. Qu and Joe Sarubbi with the Interstate Renewable Energy Council.