Solar energy topic of RENEW lecture

Published September 23, 2019

The challenges of transforming a fossil fuel-based economy to a sustainable economy based on solar energy is the topic of a lecture on Oct. 4 sponsored by UB RENEW.

“Towards a Solar Economy,” a talk by Rakesh Agrawal, the Winthrop E. Stone Distinguished Professor in the Davidson School of Chemical Engineering at Purdue University, will take place at 11 a.m. in The Buffalo Room, 10 Capen Hall, North Campus.

It is part of the RENEW Institute Innovation Lecture Series in Energy, Environment and Water Sustainability, which seeks to promote dialogue and interaction with UB’s faculty and students in the broad areas of energy, environment and water.

Agrawal is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, whose research includes novel processes for the fabrication of low-cost, thin-film solar cells; energy systems analysis; biomass-to-liquid-fuel conversion; synthesis of efficient, multicomponent, separation processes using distillation, membranes and adsorption; and basic and applied research in gas separations and liquefaction.

He has published more than technical papers and has given more than 250 invited lectures. He holds 126 U.S. patents and more than 500 foreign patents.

A fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the National Academy of Inventors and the Indian National Academy of Engineering, Agrawal received the National Medal of Technology and Innovation from President Obama in 2011.

Those interested in attending the lecture are asked to RSVP.