Educational Programs

The Green Engineering Program, directed by Sean McGinnis, research scientist in materials science and engineering and biological systems engineering, strives to make engineering students aware of the environmental impact of engineering practice in all life-cycle phases of products, processes, and systems. Classes in this program, including Introduction to Green Engineering and Environmental Life Cycle Analysis, provide students with design and analytical skills to minimize environmental impact. Energy - from sources to carriers to production to efficiency - is a recurring and central topic throughout this educational program.

The Center for Automotive Fuel Cell Systems, a U.S. Department of Energy graduate automotive technology education (GATE) program, is a multidisciplinary automotive engineering program that researches technologies critical to the development of fuel-efficient/low-emission vehicles. Contact: Doug Nelson.

The Hydrogen Technology Education Center (H2TEC), created by Michael Ellis, Doug Nelson, and Michael von Spakovsky of mechanical engineering and Mike Karmis of mining and minerals engineering and sponsored by the National Association of State Energy Officials, is an educational and demonstration program for hydrogen fuel technologies.

"Materials and Processes for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells" is a National Science Foundation-supported research experience for undergraduates (REU) program that involves approximately 10 student participants each year, with most of them coming from universities across the country, including minority schools. David Dillard, professor, and Michael Ellis, associate professor in mechanical engineering, developed the program.

The University Core Curriculum Series on Earth Sustainability includes case studies and discipline-based views of non-renewable and renewable energy. Barbara Bekken, assistant professor of geological sciences, is the contact.

The College of Architecture and Urban Studies offers a Ph.D program in Environmental Design and Planning, which includes a special opportunity for research on energy and environmental policy. The Master in Urban and Regional Planning offers an Environmental Planning and Policy concentration. John Randolph, director of the School of Public and International Affairs and Professor of environmental planning, is the contact.

Yvan Beliveau, the Georgia Anne Snyder-Falkinham Professor of Building Construction, is director of the Myers-Lawson School of Construction. Energy-related research, education, and outreach within the School focuses on: Developing building system models that support a holistic approach to system design and control strategies; Investigating building systems (heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting, daylighting, window, and envelope systems) interactions to increase efficiency; Developing new materials and material systems to support energy efficient building systems and construction practices; Developing new, high performance facility technologies and practices; Understanding how new technologies are commercialized, diffused, and adopted by building stakeholders to improve the performance of their facilities; Developing new cost and performance models to better predict the costs and benefits of green building practices; Designing systems to support the integration of sustainability as an objective of public sector capital project decision making; Educating current and future design and construction professionals about how to implement sustainability in professional practice.

Jactone Arogo Ogejo researches e nergy and nutrient recovery from biobased materials and does technology transfer. He is working with Extension specialists in the biological systems engineering department to develop an education program for bioenergy production and usage. The goal is to educate the citizens of Virginia on the different energy sources, and how bioenergy fits the renewable energy spectrum. The bioenergy education program covers bioethanol, biodiesel, biogas and bio-oil production and usage.