How South Carolina is Leading the Fuel Cell Industry: EngenuitySC’s Science Café on July 9
July 1, 2013
COLUMBIA, SC – July 1, 2013 – The next installment of EngenuitySC’s Science Café features Dr. Kenneth Reifsnider, whose SmartState center at USC is leading the global fuel cell industry from the heart of the Palmetto State. The informal talk will take place on Tuesday, July 9, 2013, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Speakeasy cocktail bar in Five Points.
Dr Reifsnider is the SmartState Endowed Chair in Solid Oxide Fuels at the University of South Carolina and a member of the prestigious National Academy of Engineering. He is charting new frontiers through fuel cell innovation and mapping a course toward energy independence and a healthy planet. Dr. Reifsnider’s research focus is in fuel cell science and mechanical engineering, with a focus on how materials behave-their durability, damage tolerance and the way they perform over time.
Dr. Kyle Brinkman, a principal engineer and the Program Manager of the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy activities for the Savannah River National Laboratory, will also be speaking and taking questions.
Why learn about fuel cells?
1. South Carolina is leading the global fuel cell industry consistently as a Top Five Fuel Cell State in the U.S., according to Fuel Cells 2000.
2. Columbia is one of South Carolina’s leading hubs for the fuel cell industry, with strong relationships with USC’s multiple fuel cell centers, one of the state’s two hydrogen fueling stations used for vehicle pilot projects, and access to world-class researchers and innovators at the Savannah River National Laboratory.
3. South Carolina businesses actively employ fuel cell technologies: BMW Manufacturing Co. in the Upstate facility now employs the nation’s largest fuel cell-powered forklift fleet, according to Plug Power, their fuel cell supplier.
4. Solid oxide fuel cells are a green technology. They are highly efficient; operate with a number of fuels, including renewable fuels; and produce very low amounts of greenhouse gasses and pollution.
Dr. Reifsnider is the Director of the Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) Center at the University of South Carolina, a world leader in solid oxide fuel cell and energy systems research. His team, with over 50 faculty and students, includes renowned energy science researchers from all over the world and is one of the largest and most comprehensive energy conversion and storage university teams in the U.S.
A prolific researcher and innovator, Dr. Reifsnider holds three patents. His work has attracted a cadre of influential partners, including General Motors, Boeing, BASF, John Deere, LG Electronics and the Savannah River National Laboratory.
Science Café Loyalty Perks
Advanced registration is highly recommended in order to earn points towards the Science Café loyalty program, which awards prizes like Science Café pint glasses, drink vouchers, gift cards, VIP seating, T-shirts and lighthearted, honorary titles to frequent guests. For more information and to register for free admission to the next Science Café, visit http://www.engenuitysc.com/sciencecafe.
About Science Café
EngenuitySC hosts Science Café at 6 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month, featuring informal presentations by some of South Carolina’s top leaders in science and technology in a casual atmosphere. Guests enjoy free admission, networking and a cash bar with high quality beer, wine and cocktails at Speakeasy in Five Points, a comfortable, pub-style environment with couches and expert mixologists behind the bar. The 2012-2013 season is The Year of the SmartState at Science Café; patrons have the opportunity to discuss the latest knowledge economy topics with SmartState ProgramTM Endowed Chairs in a relaxed environment that encourages questions, interruptions and discussion.
About EngenuitySC
Headquartered in Columbia, EngenuitySC is a public/private partnership formed to develop and grow the South Carolina Midlands’ knowledge-based economy by fostering an environment where entrepreneurship, innovation, and the creation of knowledge are fundamental elements of the region’s culture, identity, and economic development strategy. Through collaboration with business, government, and higher education, EngenuitySC leads initiatives that support research development, promote commercialization, and leverage the region’s assets. For more information, visit http://www.engenuitysc.com.
About the SmartState ProgramTM
The SmartState ProgramTM serves the public interest by creating incentives for the state’s research universities, in cooperation with other institutions of higher education in the state, to raise capital from non-state sources to fund endowments for specialized research professorships. These professorships in turn serve as the nucleus for unique, university-based research centers which cultivate critical, public-private industrial partnerships, expand the state’s knowledge base, create well-paying jobs, and enhance economic opportunities and improve the quality of life for the people of South Carolina. For more information, visit http://www.SmartStateSC.org.
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