u- mi energetically speaking

President Coleman's panel - Education IS infrastructure

2009-09-23T10:53:00.009-04:00

UM President Mary Sue Coleman came out of the panel blocks with a strong Midwest reminder, declaring wryly “The Great Lakes states – we’re not dead yet!”

But she wasn’t just kidding – she went on to make strong points about higher ed – specifically higher ed in the nation’s Midwest – being key cogs in the machine to solve energy problems.

It was clear that while the topic was infrastructure – Education is infrastructure.

She made the point – echoed by others on the panel – that America needs to focus on what Andy Karsner of Applied Materials termed application-driven energy policy instead of interest-driven energy policy. Sustained focus is needed, Coleman said, so faculty can pursue complex problems over long periods of time without fear that funding will dry up too soon. Student need to be able to invest time, money and creativity in areas they can be confident will become fruitful careers.

This, she said, is what faculty and students will need as they take programs such as battery storage and new materials, into new directions.

She also spoke of the university’s new partnerships with industry to solve problems that begin with intense basic research – notably solar energy and battery storage – problems U-M already is engaging with industry.

“We’re seeing a much more easy relationship and more trust on both sides on how we’re going to solve these problems,” she said. “We’ve had big wins in terms of cooperation.”

Big finish: Students entrepreneurial spirit.

“What is striking is the entrepreneurial spirit of students. They are absolutely ready to go out and do things more risky than I would have expected.

“They are very eager to help solve these problems and we have an enormous resource we need to tap into. They understand the competitive issues they’re going to face.”

Need proof? Check out 1000 pitches at UM she mentioned.

Newsweek's Green Rankings

2009-09-23T09:02:00.007-04:00

Interesting to see Newsweek releasing it's 500 largest companies based on their environmental impact. Who's greenest?

The magazine sought to assess each company's actual resource use and emissions and its policies and strategies, along with its reputation among its peers. The 500 companies included in the ranking are the largest U.S. companies as measured by revenue, market capitalization and number of employees.

No. 1: Hewlett-Packard.

Interesting: McDonald's is No. 22. Walt Disney: 34 (I'm picturing a green mouse...)

Take a look Newsweek's Green Rankings

Kick-off

2009-09-23T08:35:00.008-04:00

President Coleman and Research VP Forrest are here, listening to the morning's discussion. Before it began, both were commenting on how well UM is positioned for the nation's current rain of support for energy -- and energy science.

Coleman: "UM will continue to invest in our strengths."

Summit started on that note from a UM standpoint, with attention straight out of the gate on revitalizing the nation's electric grid to meet the challenges of new technology coming .

Shirley Ann Jackson, president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and one of the Council on Competitiveness co-chairs, sited "upgrading and smartening up the electric grid ... for more high voltage, high transmission lines designed in way more robust and looking at new materials." She also mentioned the new energy sources (ie wind, solar) demand better ways to store that energy.

Makes me think of Engineering Professor Ian Hisken's work to make our electric grid work when these new technologies come into play.

National Energy Summit - top o' the morning

2009-09-23T07:43:00.004-04:00

Day starts early here. First update: Michigan does have a bigger turnout. MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon arrived first thing. Simon is not listed as a speaker, but always good to see a good state turnout.

Both universities are listed as sponsors of this program.

Pregameing...

2009-09-22T16:04:00.006-04:00

I just learned "pregame" is a verb from my college daughter, so in that spirit -- here's the buzz before tomorrow's big Energy Summit.

I'm in DC after a morning spent with the pros at the National Science Foundation. The Office of Legislative and Public Affairs folks in the last decade have set the standard for compellingly telling Americans -- and the world - the magic worked with our nation's research dollars. And their telling rocks. Check out www.nsf.gov to see a heap o' plenty primo science stories -- most emerging from universities. Their plug: they rely on, need and demand stories and images of government-funded science research from those they fund.

My favorite quote from science communication guru Josh Chamot: "Communication = research dollars," meaning the better the public understands science, the better positioned science is to be funded. You heard it from the mount, researchers -- call your friendly communicator today.

So, on tomorrow's docket: Hardcore energy. This energy summit is a heavy hitter. U.S. Energy Secretary Stephen Chu at 2:30 p.m. (Being an unabashed science groupie, I'm feeling stomach butterflies that used to be reserved for the Eagles.) The speaker list is a Who's Who of industry, government, and higher ed. UM's Mary Sue Coleman is THE Michigan presence. (Research VP Steve Forrest is attending)

Partnership with Newsweek magazine means good reads. Check out the blogs they've been running the past few weeks -- a terrific mix of good energy stories from all sectors.

Tomorrow starts early... tonight I'm meeting old colleagues at a favorite haunt, the newly remodeled top of the former Hotel Washington -- now the POV. Best view of city, and J.Lo was just there Sunday...

The National Energy Summit coming Wednesday, Sept. 23

2009-09-16T11:52:00.008-04:00

The National Energy Summit & International Dialogue is two days of top corporate CEOs, senior U.S. and global government officials, university presidents, labor union leader and other dignitaries getting together to talk energy in Washington, DC.

That'll include University of Michigan president Mary Sue Coleman as a panel member.

She's on the panel Leadership Dialogue III: Jumpstarting Energy Infrastructure and Manufacturing at 10:15 a.m.

Our intrepid energy reporter will be at the summit, blogging what she sees, what she hears and what seems energetic about energy.

Find out about the summit at http://www.compete.org/nes/event_about

and stay tuned...