Mar 28 2013
The 2013 Summit on Energy Efficiency will bring together leading experts to discuss the latest innovations in materials science and technology for energy generation, energy storage, lighting, and electronics
Leaders in research, entrepreneurs, and key policymakers from industry, academia, and government will convene at the 2013 Summit on Energy Efficiency, May 1 – 2. Hosted by UC Santa Barbara's Institute for Energy Efficiency, the Summit provides a forum for a critical dialogue about how advancements in materials science and technology can meet future energy needs through efficiency improvements.
"We are all aware of the energy crisis that we as a society are facing. The goal of the Summit is to gather experts and policy leaders, discuss the latest science and technology for energy efficiency and renewable energy, and to stimulate everyone to think in new ways," said Dr. John Bowers, Director of the Institute for Energy Efficiency.
This year's summit, held at The Fess Parker Resort in Santa Barbara, has attracted high-profile panelists who are leading major research and development efforts in energy efficiency and materials science. Space is limited and early registration rates end on April 5th. Registration is available online at iee.ucsb.edu/summit2013.
This year's Summit program emphasizes the theme of "Materials for a Sustainable Energy Future," featuring an opening keynote on materials science innovations by Steven Chu, outgoing U.S. Secretary of Energy. Featured keynote speakers also include: Michael McQuade of United Technologies Corporation; George Crabtree, Director of the newly established DOE Battery Hub at Argonne National Laboratory; and Kateri Callahan President of the Alliance to Save Energy.
Guest panelists from Soraa, Cree, Intel, Ciena, Pellion Technologies, Southern California Edison, PG&E, U.S. Department of Energy, Ames Research Laboratory, MIT, Yale, and UC Santa Barbara will lead discussions on the following topics: Materials for Energy Technology; Innovations in Solid-State Lighting; Information and Communications Technology; Electrochemical Energy Storage Technology; Utilities discussion on Energy Efficiency; High Efficiency Power Electronics
"We want to be in an environment where government subsidies are not needed; where energy efficiency is purely driven by technology, and that's why events like this are very important," commented Ramamoorthy Ramesh, former Director of the DOE SunShot Initiative at the 2011 Summit.