Governor Strickland Visits UC Energy Labs

Ohio Governor Ted Strickland visited the University of Cincinnati Oct. 4 to observe first hand the alternative energy and undergraduate research being undertaken in faculty and student labs.

Senior vice president and provost Tony Perzigian welcomed Gov. Strickland to UC, noting UC's rank as a top 25 public research university nationally and being ranked in the top 200 internationally. UC prides itself, Perzigian said, on being a place where “knowledge is produced and knowledge is disseminated.”

“As you know, the idea of cooperative education was founded at UC,” Perzigian told the group, pointing out the recent addition of a research co-op certificate program to help students move right into research jobs in government and industry. Perzigian assured the governor that the UC’s Solar Decathlon entry was ready for the competition in Washington, D.C.

Perzigian highlighted the accomplishments of outreach efforts made by UC in the STEMM disciplines (science, technology, engineering, math and medicine), including special efforts to involve women and students of color. He concluded by thanking the governor for his support of higher education, saying, “as you mentioned in the gubernatorial debates right here at UC, support of higher ed starts with support for P–12.”

Perzigian also noted, “And we’ve been pinching ourselves lately because our Bearcat football team is in the top 20, according to the AP.” 

Faculty members and graduate students made presentations on removing contaminants from flue gas, alternative fuels, biorefineries, carbon dioxide separation and biodiesel fuels. Following the discussions, the governor toured two labs in the College of Engineering.

The first, led by professor Raj Singh, demonstrated their work in solid oxide fuel cells that are self-healing at high temperatures. The second lab, directed by associate professor Vesselin Shanov, highlighted the fuel cell research undertaken by undergraduates in the UC’s College of Engineering.

In his concluding press conference, Gov. Strickland announced his support of energy legislation introduced by state Sen. Robert Schuler (a UC alumnus).

At the conclusion of the press conference, Governor Strickland was introduced to UC visiting professor Elwood Jensen, recipient of the Lasker Award for his pioneering work in breast cancer research. Only two Ohioans have received the Lasker and both from the University of Cincinnati. Albert Sabin was the first.

Following the press conference, Gov. Strickland took the opportunity to take a spin in a biodiesel-fueled vehicle owned by graduate student Nancy Dendramis.