The U.S. Department of Energy has announced its fourth round of solicitations and funding from the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). This round of funding focuses on rare earth alternatives and breakthroughs in biofuels, thermal storage, grid controls and solar power electronics. Up to $130 million from ARPA-E will be made available to develop five program areas in efforts to encourage the creation of breakthrough through technologies and strengthen America's global competitiveness in the clean energy race. The five technology areas announced for this round are:

• Plants Engineered to Replace Oil (PETRO)
• High Energy Advance Thermal Storage (HEATS)
• Rare Earth Alternatives in Critical Technologies (REACT)
• Green Electricity Network Integration (GENI)
• Solar Agile Delivery of Electrical Power Technology (Solar ADEPT)

To learn more about these opportunities and how to apply, click here.

  

Dacheng Ren, assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering in the L.C.Smith College of Engineering and Computer Sciences at SyracuseCoE Platinum Partner Syracuse University, has been given the prestigious Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award by the National Science Foundation (NSF) for his proposal "Patterned Biofilm Formation by Surface Design: Linking Structure to Physiology and Genetics." Ren's study will improve fundamental understanding of biofilm formation and horizontal gene transfer, as well as general knowledge of bacteria physiology, and help develop more effective methods to control bacterial biofilm formation and drug resistance. For the full story, click here.

 
 

SyracuseCoE founding board member and chairman of SyracuseCoE Silver Partner Air Innovations, Inc., Larry Wetzel has been named as a recipient of The Manufacturers Association of Central New York (MACNY) Wall of Fame Award. Wetzel is one of three recipients named for this year's awards. As an engineer, Wetzel holds eight U.S. Patents, in addition to being founder of Air Innovations, Inc. and Clean Room Technology Inn. Wetzel also co-founded Exponential Business Development Co., bought by Newtek Capital in 2002. The recipients will be honored at the MACNY's 98th annual dinner on May 12. For more, click here.

               

SyracuseCoE Platinum Partner Syracuse University has announced the appointment of Sherburne Abbott as Vice President for Sustainability Initiatives and University Professor of Sustainability Science & Policy. Currently serving as the associate director for environment of the Office of Science and Technology Policy in the Executive Office of President Obama, Abbott will be at the center of implementing programs designed to enhance SU's position as a leader in excellence in sustainability scholarship and practice. To learn more, click here.

In collaboration with Time Warner Cable's "Connect A Million Minds Week" - an effort to get kids interested in science, technology, engineering and math - the SyracuseCoE Center for Sustainable Community Solutions hosted 5th and 6th grade students from Salem Hyde Elementary School to learn about the SyracuseCoE headquarters and how it acts as a "living laboratory," as well as attend a variety of fun, educational workshops. For the full article, click here. For more information on the "Connect A Million Minds" program, click here.  

       

The Manufacturers Association of Central New York (MACNY), SyracuseCoE, and Terrapin Bright Green will host a breakfast presentation and discussion on how biomimicry can help New York State companies innovate on May 11. Biomimicry is a design process that imitates or takes inspiration from natural forms and processes to solve human problems. Biomimetic innovations are helping companies save energy, reduce waste, and create successful products by using the natural world for inspiration. NYSERDA is funding a 2-year program that reaches out to New York State manufacturers to participate in free workshops to identify opportunities for NYSERDA-funded individual consulting on biomimicry. This breakfast presentation on May 11 will explore the benefits of biomimicry, and will be followed by a discussion of how companies can participate in this NYSERDA program. For more event details, click here.

    

Onondaga County's "Save the Rain" program has been identified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a model green infrastructure community. Syracuse and Onondaga County are one of only ten communities to receive this special designation.

The partnership ensures EPA will collaborate with other federal agencies, state and local governments, tribes, municipalities, and the private sector to identify opportunities and provide technical assistance to communities implementing green approaches to control storm water. The Environmental Finance Center at SyracuseCoE Center for Sustainable Community Solutions leads the education and outreach efforts for Save the Rain. For more information on the Save the Rain campaign, click here. 

    

GE Energy recently announced an award to SyracuseCoE Platinum Partner Clarkson University of a two-year, $1 million Corporate Grant for Graduate Student Fellowships. The grant will support graduate students who will perform research in conjunction with GE's Smart Grid and Smart Grid Technology initiatives. The GE Smart Grid Fellowship Program funds the education of 11 graduate students over a course of two years, aiming to advance research into a self-monitoring and self-regulating network of electric power and to prepare the energy industry's next generation of engineers and software developers. For more, click here.

     

On June 3, SyracuseCoE Platinum Partner SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry will host the Central New York Biotechnology Symposium with an event focus on cultivating economic growth. The 2011 Central New York Biotechnology Symposium will bring together the region's most promising and innovative biotechnology companies involved in drug discovery and development, manufacturing of biologicals and cell-based therapies, bioremediation, agricultural biotechnology, and bioproducts and bioenergy. For more information or a schedule of events, click here.

     

SyracuseCoE Platinum Partner National Grid has received recognition from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for its leadership in mitigating the effects of climate change, and creating opportunities for their customers to save money through efficiency savings. This is the 12th consecutive year that National Grid has been recognized by the organizations, and took home a total of 4 awards: Excellence in ENERGY STAR Promotions, ENERGY STAR Emerging Markets Award for NH Performance with Energy Star, ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence in Program Delivery and Partner of the Year Award, and Sustained Excelled Award for ENERGY STAR Homes. To learn more about the awards and National Grid's efficiency recognitions, click here.

       

SyracuseCoE Platinum Partner Herman Miller has been selected by The Sustainable Asset Management (SAM) group to be included in the "The Sustainability Yearbook 2011", and has awarded the company with the "SAM Sector Leader" and "SAM Sector Mover" distinction awards. The Sustainability Yearbook provides an overview of the results of the 12th SAM Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA). SAM looks for companies that portray awareness of sustainability issues, and indications that the companies have implemented strategies to address such issues. For more, click here.

         

- Tuesday, May 3 from 4pm-8pm
- Wednesday, May 4 from 4pm to 8pm
- Saturday, May 7 from 9am-12pm

Workshops will be held in an open house format, at the OnCenter Ballroom, and feature interactive stations where guests can explore the history of I-81 and the state of the highway today, share thoughts on future plans, and participate in the process of deciding what options are best for the region of Syracuse.

The I-81 Challenge is a joint effort of the New York State Department of Transportation and the Syracuse Metropolitan Transportation Council to engage a broad cross-section of community members in developing and evaluating options for the future of the I-81 corridor in Central New York.

For more program information or details about event listings, click here.