ND Energy

Interested in conducting energy-related research at the University of Notre Dame this summer? The Vincent P. Slatt Fellowship Program is accepting applications from undergraduate students who want to gain a deeper understanding of sustainable energy. Apply by February 28! Explore application instructions for Notre Dame students and visiting students here: https://lnkd.in/gT3prGRR

In responding to climate change, decision-makers now have a new resource to track progress around the world: the Global Urban Climate Assessment (GUCA). Developed by a team at the University of Notre Dame, this decision-support tool offers leaders a way to understand and compare city vulnerabilities, assess adaptation plans, and develop resilience. The pilot features critical evidence from 12 cities: Abuja, Nigeria; Amman, Jordan; Beijing, China; Berlin, Germany; Bogotá, Colombia; Jakarta, Indonesia; Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo; Mogadishu, Somalia; Mumbai, India; Panama City, Panama; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Shenzhen, China. The team aims to expand the GUCA framework going forward, amid continued population growth in urban environments. “At the start of the 20th century, only 13% of the world’s population lived in urban areas,” said Danielle Wood, Associate Professor of the Practice in the Environmental Change Initiative — of which the Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative, which Wood directs, is a research facility. “By 2050, that number is expected to rise to 60%, with an estimated 4.9 billion people living in cities. Our team at Notre Dame is eager to see the tool evolve with feedback from partners around the world.” Discover more about the insights GUCA brings to the process of lowering risk and enhancing readiness: https://lnkd.in/eatrhtyj

The risk of heat-related death and illness disproportionately affects lower-income individuals. But researchers at the University of Notre Dame are responding to this reality with advanced computational technology and strong community partnerships. With support from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the BUILT2AFFORD initiative uses data and analytics to lower energy costs and improve living conditions —?starting in South Bend. “Our infrastructure, including our housing, is not built for excessive heat,“ said Ming Hu, who leads the research team and also serves as the associate dean for research, scholarship, and creative work in the Notre Dame School of Architecture. “Our energy grid is not built to accommodate higher peak load during the summertime. So what we’re worried about is the domino effect. If the grid goes out, there’s no cooling in those houses. What happens if that lasts a couple of weeks? Where do people go?” In responding to these questions, the team aims to develop, test and validate a tool that uses machine learning and Google Street View to identify housing units suitable for low-cost passive retrofits — things such as improved insulation and air sealing, new windows, upgraded ventilation systems, and exterior shading. Hu works with expert collaborators, including Chaoli Wang, Matthew Sisk of the Lucy Family Institute for Data & Society, and Eugenio Acosta, alongside faculty from Notre Dame's Center for Broader Impacts. As a critical part of the process, BUILT2AFFORD is partnering with the City of South Bend, the Near Northwest Neighborhood, South Bend Heritage Foundation and Oldtown Capital Partners to target single-family homes and apartment buildings downtown and on the city’s near northwest side. https://lnkd.in/eVmNVwCP

Paul Kempf P.E.'s goal is to be a good steward of the University’s resources while providing compliant, cost-effective and efficient energy for campus. A new award recognizes his transformative commitment to this mission. ??

Applications are open for the ND Energy Student Research Fellowships! This is an opportunity for Notre Dame undergraduate and graduate students to gain valuable research experience in energy-related areas in collaboration with ND Energy faculty affiliates. Students will receive awards to support their research efforts and advance?their research knowledge, while making new discoveries and solving some of the greatest energy challenges facing the world today. Fellowship opportunities include the: —Vincent P. Slatt Fellowship for Undergraduate Research in Energy Systems and Processes —Patrick and Jana Eilers Graduate Student Fellowship for Energy Related Research —Forgash Fellowship for Graduate Student Research in Solar Energy —Forgash Fellowship for Graduate Student Research in Energy Storage Applications will be accepted until Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. (ET). Explore the fellowships and application instructions: https://lnkd.in/ebj_H7wp #EnergyResearch?#RenewableEnergy #SolarEnergy #EnergyStorage #STEMEducation

Building community and knowledge ?? The 18th Annual ND Energy Week addressed pressing challenges and opportunities in sustainable energy — from the use of quantum computing to design energy-efficient windows to the efficiency projects currently active on campus. Thank you to all of our esteemed speakers and attendees for sharing your curiosity and forming connections. Snapshots of some highlights are featured in the images below. —Mark Hummel, Senior Director of Utilities and Maintenance, shared key insights about Notre Dame’s energy landscape. —Elsa Barron '21,?Austin Matheny '18, and?Lucas Barreto '24 talked with Bennett Schmitt '25 about their their career paths as climate and energy professionals in the nonprofit space. —In an event co-organized by ND's new chapter of the American Nuclear Society, Peter Burns, Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering & Earth Sciences at Notre Dame, described the past, present, and future of nuclear energy. —Artificial intelligence can be used to design and optimize materials that address energy challenges, Tengfei Luo, Professor of Aerospace & Mechanical Engineering at Notre Dame, explained.

The 18th annual “Notre Dame Energy Week” kicks off on Monday, September 16 and lasts all the way until Wednesday the 25th! Join us for a number of expert talks and community events —?including a virtual session — during that time, and get to know the field from peers and professionals alike. We hope to see you there! View the lineup below, and visit here for more information and full event details: https://lnkd.in/e-ticr2P ?? Monday, September 16: Sustainability Expo ?? Wednesday, September 18: Lunch and Learn with Charles J. Tuskan ?? Thursday, September 19: Notre Dame's Commitment to Carbon Neutrality, featuring Mark Hummel ?? ONLINE Monday, September 23: Energizing Voices in Climate Action: Notre Dame Alumni in Environmental Policy & Advocacy, featuring Elsa Barron, Austin Matheny, and Lucas Barreto ?? Tuesday, September 24: Nuclear Energy: Past, Present, and Future, featuring Peter Burns ?? Wednesday, September 25: AI for Technology Innovation, featuring Tengfei Luo

After kicking off the academic year, students from the Energy Studies Minor capstone seminars met for the first time. The group — which includes sophomore, juniors and seniors from varied majors — shared information and takeaways from their summer internships and research. What a great start to the year!

Ahead of the upcoming Career Fair and Sustainability?Expo, energy studies minors and engineers received guidance from Valena Hernandez of the Meruelo Family Center for Career Development at the University of Notre Dame. Thanks to Valena for sharing expertise and encouragement about these exciting next steps! Join the Sustainability Expo on Monday, September 16 from 5-8 pm on the second floor of the Duncan Student Center. https://lnkd.in/e8_BWpn3

Welcome to the University of Notre Dame! ?? Energy studies minors Anna Fent, Toby Bradshaw,?Kristel Castellanos,?Margot Haller, and?Genevieve Cicchiello welcomed the new class of first-year engineers to campus on Saturday by providing smoothies with the iconic “smoothie bike.”