(New Workshop)
Course GEOSC 897A:
Exploring Renewable Energy Technologies and the Materials that Make it Happen*

June 22-27, 2008

Participants in this workshop will explore the intersection of energy and materials through the production of carbon-neutral energy devices. Educators will develop learning modules during the course. These modules would include the construction of new devices to convert and store energy, and the exploration of scientific principles connected with those materials and technologies (e.g. photovoltaic cells, fuel cells, batteries and capacitors).

The workshop will include a series of hands-on experiments in which educators will build and test device performance. In addition, workshop participants will explore cutting edge technology utilized for the production environmentally friendly renewable energy sources. The modules developed during this workshop will be designed with lesson plans and handouts in mind for simple transference to the traditional classroom.

*Most approriate for 9-12 Grade Educators, but 4-8 Grade Educators are welcome to apply.

Facilitators:

• Dr. R. Allen Kimel, Assistant Professor and Associate Head for Undergraduate Education of Materials Science and Engineering
• Dr. Jeffrey R. S. Brownson, Assistant Professor of Energy and Mineral Engineering
• Dr. Michael Hickner, Assistant Professor of Materials Science and Engineering

Lead Instructors

	Allen Kimel is Associate Head for Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. He joined the faculty in 2002 with the responsibility of re-writing the undergraduate laboratory curriculum. Since 2002, Allen has created and taught five new courses. In 2007, Allen received the Wilson Award for Outstanding Teaching, the highest award for teaching given in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. Allen’s research interest include colloidal and interfacial chemistry, aqueous synthesis and processing of nano-particulate materials, and general materials chemistry.
	Jeffrey R. S. Brownson is Assistant Professor for the Department of Energy & Mineral Engineering at Penn State. His research deals with inorganic photovoltaic materials and photovoltaic device design, sustainable energy solutions, and environmental technologies that help to achieve our goals of providing sustainable energy delivery to society. He is also the director of Penn State's second bid in the Solar Decathlon (2009), a national competition in which students design and build a modern house powered solely by the sun.
	Michael Hickner is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Penn State. His interests are primarily in polymer (plastic) materials, fuel cells, and polymer photovoltaics. He came to Penn State from Sandia National Lab where he worked on renewable energy technology, ion-containing polymers, water transport in porous media, and modeling of fuel cell processes.