Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions

4/26: Planet Saving Science: Addressing Climate Change with Sustainable and Energy Materials

Date and Time
Tuesday, April 26, 2022 - 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Location
Virtual

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Join the Duke Alumni Forever Learning Institute for TWO virtual events on April 26 at 12-1 p.m. ET and 3-4 p.m. ET:

Scientists are acutely aware that the world is counting on them to address our climate future and energy consumption through safer, cleaner, more efficient materials. New approaches, led by materials scientists and engineers at Duke, involve not only fresher versions of conventional materials but new thinking within the design phase. From reducing effects of technologies as they become waste to harnessing solar energy and smart textiles permitting less energy use for heating and cooling, find out how Duke experts  are working to inform smarter, more environmentally friendly design of products and technologies.

Organized by the Duke Alumni Forever Learning Institute in partnership with the Duke University Energy Initiative and Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions. 

Register for one or both of the sessions

Speakers at 12-1 p.m. ET:
 

Heileen (Helen) Hsu-Kim is a professor of environmental engineering at Duke University's Pratt School of Engineering, where she has been a member of the faculty since 2005. Prior to joining Duke, Dr. Hsu-Kim completed her B.S. degree in environmental engineering at MIT, and M.S./Ph.D. degrees in environmental engineering at UC-Berkeley. Dr. Hsu-Kim's research tackles problems related to pollutant metals and the biogeochemical processes that alter their distribution in water, soil, and air. The applications of this work include environmental remediation technologies, the impacts of energy production on water resources, technologies to recover valuable materials from wastes, and assessments of toxic metal exposures for vulnerable populations. Learn more

Megan O'Connor PhD '17 is co-founder and CEO of Nth Cycle, a metal processing company that has developed technology to enable a clean, domestic, and streamlined supply of critical minerals for the clean energy transition. Dr. O'Connor leverages years of experience working on sustainable technology in many of America's top research labs, where she helped develop the electro-extraction processes she and her team are commercializing at Nth Cycle. Prior to founding Nth Cycle, Dr. O'Connor was an Entrepreneurial Fellow in the Innovation Crossroads program at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and was a visiting researcher at Yale University's Center for Green Chemistry & Green Engineering. Dr. O'Connor received her PhD in environmental engineering from Duke University and was recognized by Forbes on its "30 under 30" energy list in 2019. Nth Cycle is based in Boston, Massachusetts, and is supported by a world-class team of investors including Clean Energy Ventures, the Department of Energy, and Elemental Excelerator.
 

Speakers at 3-4 p.m. ET: 


Po-Chun Hsu is assistant professor of mechanical engineering and materials science at Duke's Pratt School of Engineering. Dr. Hsu's research focuses on innovative materials for light and heat management. By utilizing fundamental principles of materials science and photonic engineering, his group aims to boost the thermoregulation performance and functionality for applications in wearable technology, net-zero carbon buildings, electrochromic display/camouflage, spacecraft thermal control, and beyond. He earned his PhD degree in materials science and engineering and postdoctoral research in mechanical engineering, both at Stanford University. He is an awardee of Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Awards (2021), MIT Technology Review Innovators Under 35 China (TR35 China, 2020), Sony Faculty Innovation Award (2019), and Clarivate Analytics Highly Cited Researchers. His research in cooling textiles was selected as a Top Ten World-Changing Idea by Scientific American. Learn more

Christian Hernandez '97, partner at 2150, is a technologist and experienced venture capitalist. Prior to co-founding 2150, Christian launched White Star Capital, a venture capital fund with over $250 million in assets under management and a global presence. Previously, Christian held leadership roles through the scale-up phase of some of the world's largest technology companies, notably as head of international business development at Facebook and head of new markets at Google. Christian holds a B.A. in economics from Duke University and an MBA from The Wharton School, and is a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum.

Register Here!