Among friends, family and colleagues, Ernest Moniz was officially sworn in as the 13th United States Secretary of Energy yesterday. After his swearing-in, Moniz his enthusiasm for the task at hand — expressing his commitment to advancing President Obama’s all-of-the-above energy strategy. He listed a variety of top priorities for his term as Secretary of Energy – from promoting American leadership in science and clean energy innovation to maintaining a safe and reliable nuclear stockpile. Moniz closed his speech simply and to the point, “I hope we can all look back over the next three and a half years and say that we accomplished important work for the American people.” More>
Posts Tagged ‘Department of Energy’
Moniz Sworn in as Secretary of Energy
Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013Webinar on Recent Changes to the DOE SBIR/STTR Programs
Monday, May 13th, 2013A webinar that provides an overview of and recent changes to the DOE’s SBIR and STTR programs will be held on Monday, May 20. The webinar is geared for contributors, reviewers, inventors, or collaborators. Among the items to be discussed are: the increased statutory emphasis on commercialization outcomes for these programs, the new web-based PAMS system in the Office of Science for submitting application reviews, the new SBIR initiative to incorporate DOE Labs tech transfer opportunities into SBIR/STTR solicitations, and the new statutory changes that relate to small business. Registration required.
Seven Lab Researchers Receive DOE Early Career Awards
Wednesday, May 8th, 2013In the fourth year of the Early Career Research Program managed by the Department of Energy’s Office of Science, seven Lab researchers were recipients. They include Aydin Buluc, Felix Fischer, Daniel Haxton, Alexander Hexemer, Dominique Loque, Gabriel Orebi Gann, and George Pau. They are among 61 scientists from across the nation who will receive up to $15.3 million in funding for research. The effort is designed to bolster the nation’s scientific workforce by providing support to exceptional researchers during the crucial early career years, when many scientists do their most formative work. More>
Department of Energy Renews Joint BioEnergy Institute for Another Five Years
Friday, April 5th, 2013
The Department of Energy has renewed funding for the Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) for another five years at $25 million annually. JBEI is a multi-institutional partnership for advanced biofuels research led by Berkeley Lab. The renewed funding follows strong performance reviews of JBEI research by outside peer groups. “JBEI was designed to be nimble and flexible enough to focus and refocus its research quickly, efficiently and effectively,” JBEI CEO Jay Keasling said. “We’re grateful for DOE’s recognition that this strategy continues to be a worthy investment for moving the nation toward a sustainable energy future.” More>
EETD Again Hosting Max Tech Contest for Efficient Appliance Design
Wednesday, March 27th, 2013
The Environmental Energy Technologies Division is for the second year managing the “Max Tech and Beyond,” for which teams of college students design ultra-low-energy-use appliances and equipment. Eight teams were selected from more than 90 universities: University of Maryland, Cal Poly Pomona, Tufts, Ohio State, Santa Clara University, the University of Nevada, Stony Brook University, and UC Berkeley. Among the devices submitted are prototypes an ultra-efficient hybrid air conditioning and water heating system, a thermosiphon-based refrigerator, and automated space-conditioning window shades. The competition culminates in a national webinar on May 23. More>
Nominate Your Invention for SBIR Tech Transfer Opportunities Funding
Monday, March 25th, 2013
The Department of Energy is seeking Lab-developed technologies for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Tech Transfer Opportunities funding program. Phase 1 offers between $150 and $225K, and $1 to $1.5M for Phase II. Small business awardees may subcontract (e.g., to Berkeley Lab) 33% of Phase I and 50% of Phase II awards. E-mail TTD@lbl.gov to nominate an invention that is patented or non-provisional patent application pending, that is funded by or strongly aligned with the research mission of the DOE offices of Advanced Scientific Computing Research, Basic Energy Sciences, Biological and Environmental Research, High Energy Physics, Fusion Energy Sciences, and Nuclear Physics.
DOE Women’s History Month Feature Includes Profiles of Lab Researchers
Tuesday, March 19th, 2013
In celebration of Women’s History Month, the Department of Energy is featuring “Women @ Energy,” which showcases talented and dedicated employees at the Energy Department. Women @ Energy profiles women across the country who share insights on what inspired them to work in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). Several Berkeley Lab researchers are included in the feature, including Susannah Green Tringe (JGI), Rachel Segalman (Materials Sciences), Natalie Roe (Physics), Mina Bissell and Jill Fuss (Life Sciences), Kathy Yelick (Computing Sciences), Dawn Munson (Engineering), Gabriel Orebi Gann (NSD), and (pictured) Aindrila Mukhopadhyay (JBEI). More>
Brinkman Testifies on Impacts of Sequestration on Office of Science Programs
Monday, March 11th, 2013
DOE Office of Science Director William Brinkman testified before the House Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee on March 5. In his testimony, he said: “We face sequestration cuts that will mean a reduction of $215 million for the Office of Science as compared to the FY 2012 enacted level. The Office of Science is doing everything possible to mitigate the problems caused by both the continuing resolution and impact of sequestration. However, there will be impacts to our programs, facilities, and construction projects that affect not just the progress of the science we steward, but also the everyday lives of the researchers, institutions, and businesses we support.”
Obama Nominates MIT Physicist Ernest Moniz for Next Energy Secretary
Monday, March 4th, 2013
President Obama today nominated Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Ernest Moniz as energy secretary. Moniz, a physicist, lends Obama’s Cabinet scientific heft and brings prior Washington experience. At MIT, he has directed the school’s Energy Initiative, where he oversaw reports on almost every aspect of energy. Moniz, who served as associate director of the White House office of science and technology policy and as undersecretary of energy under President Bill Clinton, is also devoted to the “all-of-the-above” strategy for energy that Obama has embraced. More>
Lab Researchers Showcase Their Research at ARPA-e Summit
Friday, March 1st, 2013
Several Berkeley Lab researchers participated in the three-day ARPA-e Energy Innovation Summit earlier this week in Washington D.C. It was the fourth annual such gathering, where thousands of attendees from government, academia and business exchange ideas about transformational energy projects. The Lab was represented by Stephen Selkowitz of the Building Technology Department, who spoke on a panel about testing facilities, as well as a number of ARPA-e awardees who had booths at the Technology Showcase. These included Christer Jansson’s tobacco-based biofuels (pictured), Philip Haves’ automated building modeling backpack, Jeff Long and Berend Smit’s metal organic frameworks, Delia Milliron’s smart window coatings, Steven Singer’s electrofuels, and Venkat Srinivasan’s flow battery.
