Morehead State University’s Department of Applied Engineering and Technology (AET) has been awarded an academic grant of $30,000 from the Siemens Building Technologies Education Team to support the department’s efforts in establishing a laboratory for energy systems and sustainability.
The award letter was sent from Siemens to President Wayne D. Andrews and Dr. Ahmad Zargari, AET chair, on Sept. 16.
The funds will be directed toward the acquisition of equipment for the lab section of the IET 352 Energy Systems and Sustainability course developed by Dr. Hans Chapman, assistant professor of design and manufacturing engineering technology.
The course was successfully offered in the summer of 2013. The Energy Sustainability Lab will initially focus on renewable energy technologies such as solar and wind energy, fuel cells and green building design.
According to Dr. Chapman, The department is deeply appreciative of the support from Tim Foster of the Siemens Infrastructure and Cities Building Technologies Division, also a member of the AET Department Advisory Board, MSU Building Maintenance Superintendent Todd Thacker, and MSU Energy Manager Bob Cooper, who played key roles in securing the award. The equipment will strongly enhance MSU’s efforts in the teaching and training of students to have the relevant skills to effectively function in the emerging renewable energy workforce and thereby contribute to the economy of the region.
With this award, Siemens has further enhanced its partnership with MSU and the AET Department. Recently, the MSU Foundation received an in-kind software grant with a commercial value of two-hundred and $9 million dollars from Siemens-PLM to develop the AET Department’s System Design, Simulation, Modeling and Manufacturing (SDMSM) center.
Dr. Chapman holds a Ph.D. degree in Materials Science and Engineering. His research areas are alternative renewable energy and advanced manufacturing. He is currently involved in research aimed at enhancing the energy resources in Eastern Kentucky.
Additional information is available by contacting Dr. Chapman at 606-783-2418.
