The Penn State EMS Energy Institute (EI) hosted an open house from 4-7 p.m. on Tuesday, September 27, on the Penn State University Park campus to introduce faculty, staff, and students to new director Sanjay Srinivasan and discuss the path of the institute.
The event began with a presentation led by Srinivasan and Bruce Miller, associate director of EI. Miller presented an overview of EI with a historical timeline and an overview of the types of fundamental and applied research performed, strategic program areas, and a breakdown of personnel and funding.
Srinivasan highlighted the benefits of being affiliated with the institute and his plans for the institute’s future, which include fostering collaboration, identifying and supporting niche areas, and leveraging resources to better support researchers. He hopes to build a vibrant student community, promote professional development opportunities, and advance students’ research writing and presentation abilities. In addition, he wants to build a stronger infrastructure that better supports collaboration with industry, national laboratories, and other research organizations.
Participants were also led on a tour of several EI laboratories to get a better look at facilities and research being conducted at the institute. The labs highlighted included some used for critical minerals research, shared analytical labs, and pilot-scale facilities.
The EMS Energy Institute at Penn State is a leading research and development organization focused on energy science and engineering. The Institute is located within the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences.