Sustainable Energy Symposium Report

Sustainable Energy Symposium Report

Willimantic, CT --  On Nov. 30, more than 250 students participated in a Sustainable Energy Symposium at Eastern Connecticut State University. Students presented their research results using posters, PowerPoint presentations, pamphlets, videos, and, in one case, as a musical performance.  Topics ranged from analysis of environmental problems to the use of wind power, energy conservation, and renewable energy to reducing consumption of fossil fuels.

A healthy crowd of students, faculty, staff and members of the Willimantic community attended the symposium, held in Eastern's Student Center, to see the posters, talk to the student authors and watch the presentations. Eastern President Elsa M. Núñez and Nancy Tinker, director of facilities management and planning, were among those in attendance.

Students are studying sustainable energy either as part of their liberal arts course requirements or as majors completing the Energy Science track in the Environmental Earth Science bachelor of science program.

In addition to the student presentations, Dan Britton from Sunlight Solar presented a lecture about his experiences working in Connecticut's Green Energy industry. Faculty and staff members, including Bob Horrocks, Drew Hyatt, Bill Leahy, Denise Matthews, Bill Black, Joel Rosiene, Carol Williams and Norma Vivar, judged the student posters and presentations.

The judges presented awards for technical contents, communication and originality. They also presented awards for outstanding work by students in the introductory course, "sustainable energy and the environment," and outstanding work by students in advanced energy courses. The winning groups included: