UH Awarded for Sustainability Research
Kaushik Rajashekara, distinguished professor of electrical and computer engineering at the Cullen College of Engineering and a member of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE), is the winner of the 2019 IEEE PELS Vehicle and Transportation Systems Achievement Award presented by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)'s Power Electronics Society (PELS).
He is being recognized "for contributions to the advancement of power conversion and propulsion systems for electrification of land and air transportation."
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Sustainability in the news
Geology Alumna Receives National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship
Erin Miller, who graduated from the University of Houston in 2018 with a bachelor's degree in geology, is the recipient of a highly prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (NSF GRF). This award will fund Miller's research on how barrier island systems respond to hurricanes and sea level rise.
The fellowship offers three years of financial support, which includes a monthly stipend, tuition allowance, and opportunities for international research and professional development. With an average award rate of approximately 16%, these fellowships are highly competitive.
UHLC rising 3L Lam examines offshore wind as a renewable energy in practicum course
University of Houston Law Center student Danielle Lam recently investigated pathways to promote the development of offshore wind energy in Texas for lecturer Tracy Hester's environmental practicum course.
"I think promoting renewable energy has a positive effect on the environment, our energy security, and our economy," Lam said. "Our energy demands are increasing and I hope that we can rely on renewable energy to meet those new demands rather than traditional fuel sources."
Researchers Report New Understanding of Thermoelectric Materials
The promise of thermoelectric materials as a source of clean energy has driven the search for materials that can efficiently produce substantial amounts of power from waste heat.
Researchers reported a major step forward Friday, publishing in Science Advances the discovery of a new explanation for asymmetrical thermoelectric performance, the phenomenon that occurs when a material that is highly efficient in a form which carries a positive charge is far less efficient in the form which carries a negative charge, or vice versa.
Solving a Scientific Mystery and Finding a Solution for Industry
In solving a scientific mystery, researchers from the University of Houston and the nation's national laboratories also discovered a new avenue for clearing toxins from water, including wastewater produced by hydraulic fracturing.
In addition to offering an explanation for strontium-rich barite formation in marine environments, the researchers said the work offers new insights for understanding and manipulating solid solution nucleation and growth, which could lead to new methods for removing toxins from water and other liquids. That includes the possibility of a more efficient way to remove strontium from the produced water resulting from hydraulic fracturing, Hu said.
