Engineering Carbon-Neutral Energy Solutions and Cultural Bridges Across the Pacific

Speaker: Professor Petros Sofronis (I2CNER Kyushu University and the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign)

Date: June 17 (18:00-19:30)

Venue: Education Department Meeting Room (教育学部会議室）- Ground Floor, Education Department Building, Arts and Humanities Campus

Abstract:

I2CNER (the International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research) was inaugurated as the sixth institute of the World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI) by the Ministry for Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in 2010.  I2CNER is an international collaboration between Japan and the US, based at Kyushu University and with a satellite at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  At I2CNER, our mission is to contribute to the creation of a sustainable and environmentally-friendly society by conducting fundamental research for the advancement of low carbon emission and cost effective energy systems and improvement of energy efficiency.  I2CNER’s approach to creating an energy vision for Japan with targeted CO2 emission reductions is presented based on an array of technologies holding promise for the future.  The institutional structure to enable this vision is outlined and I2CNER’s research efforts on an array of technologies such as Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, biomimetic and other novel catalyst concepts, and production, storage, and utilization of hydrogen as a fuel are described. In summary, I2CNER’s infrastructure, research standards and productivity, exemplify the WPI vision of cultivating outstanding scientists, building an open research platform, attracting scientists from around the globe, and establishing a globally visible research center.

Professor Petros Sofronis is the Director for International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research. He received his Ph.D. in Theoretical & Applied Mechanics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. After completing his postdoctoral work at the University of California, Santa Barbara, he returned to Illinois, where he is a Professor of Mechanical Science and Engineering. His interests are: environmental degradation of materials, hydrogen embrittlement, creep fatigue, and micromechanics of solids.