Published: Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Arkansas Science & Technology Authority
At three Arkansas colleges, GREEN researchers are creating state of the art labs for undergraduates to gain hands-on experience in the constructing, testing and optimization of solar photovoltaic (PV) cells. At the University of Arkansas in Fort Smith, John Martini (Campus Lead for the GREEN Research Center), has established a laboratory that not only trains students, but actually certifies them in solar PV installation. A separate training program certifies student to conduct energy audits. With support from the ASSET Initiative and National Science Foundation funding, Martini purchased several models of Marcraft Solar Technology Training Panels (marcraft.com), giving students access to some of the best available and proven training tools in solar cell technology.
Dr. Nastassia Jones is a newer member of the GREEN Research Team with big plans for increasing knowledge of renewable energy on her campus. Jones is a Professor of Biology at Philander Smith College in Little Rock; she currently teaches Environmental Science, Microbiology, Genetics, and will soon add Energy Literacy and Renewable Energy learning opportunities to her offerings. The two new courses will be available in Spring of 2013 and later incorporated into a new Alternative Energy Learning Lab, scheduled to come online over the next year. The labs will focus on generating clean electrons and emphasizing the need for sustainable conservation of energy as well as natural resources.
The most recent addition to the GREEN Research Group is Dr. Seyed Taghavi, Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Arkansas in Pine Bluff (UAPB). His research interests lie with Electronics and Computer Technology. Sometime in the next year, these research interests will fold in to a third GREEN Training Lab at UAPB. Students will construct photovoltaic solar cells then test their creations under various conditions to record and analyze performance of the cells.
In conjunction with these new labs and certification programs, each campus will institute alternative energy courses between the Fall 2012 and Spring 2013. Hands-on training courses and certifications provide immediate, real-world applications that seamlessly integrate into the 21st century job market. These pathways also contribute to ongoing efforts across Arkansas to strengthen its STEM Workforce Pipeline.
The GREEN Research Center for Nanoplasmonic Solar Cells works to develop state of the art technology for the creation of high-efficiency, low-cost solar energy, as well as educating a technical workforce to competitively position Arkansas for a sustainable future in the solar power industry.
Published: Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Arkansas Science & Technology Authority
At three Arkansas colleges, GREEN researchers are creating state of the art labs for undergraduates to gain hands-on experience in the constructing, testing and optimization of solar photovoltaic (PV) cells. At the University of Arkansas in Fort Smith, John Martini (Campus Lead for the GREEN Research Center), has established a laboratory that not only trains students, but actually certifies them in solar PV installation. A separate training program certifies student to conduct energy audits. With support from the ASSET Initiative and National Science Foundation funding, Martini purchased several models of Marcraft Solar Technology Training Panels (marcraft.com), giving students access to some of the best available and proven training tools in solar cell technology.
Dr. Nastassia Jones is a newer member of the GREEN Research Team with big plans for increasing knowledge of renewable energy on her campus. Jones is a Professor of Biology at Philander Smith College in Little Rock; she currently teaches Environmental Science, Microbiology, Genetics, and will soon add Energy Literacy and Renewable Energy learning opportunities to her offerings. The two new courses will be available in Spring of 2013 and later incorporated into a new Alternative Energy Learning Lab, scheduled to come online over the next year. The labs will focus on generating clean electrons and emphasizing the need for sustainable conservation of energy as well as natural resources.
The most recent addition to the GREEN Research Group is Dr. Seyed Taghavi, Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Arkansas in Pine Bluff (UAPB). His research interests lie with Electronics and Computer Technology. Sometime in the next year, these research interests will fold in to a third GREEN Training Lab at UAPB. Students will construct photovoltaic solar cells then test their creations under various conditions to record and analyze performance of the cells.
In conjunction with these new labs and certification programs, each campus will institute alternative energy courses between the Fall 2012 and Spring 2013. Hands-on training courses and certifications provide immediate, real-world applications that seamlessly integrate into the 21st century job market. These pathways also contribute to ongoing efforts across Arkansas to strengthen its STEM Workforce Pipeline.
The GREEN Research Center for Nanoplasmonic Solar Cells works to develop state of the art technology for the creation of high-efficiency, low-cost solar energy, as well as educating a technical workforce to competitively position Arkansas for a sustainable future in the solar power industry.
