2008 Woodie Awards
Howard University Professor finding way to conserve energy, oil with fuel cells
Lendora Washington/Contributing Writer
Issue date: 3/11/07 Section: Technology
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In a small, dank laboratory in the basement of Howard University's engineering building, a control block emits a beep. A small cell under layers of protective covering supplies a watt of energy to a tiny lamp on a control block. This energy originates from a power source that could change the future of energy use in the U.S.
After hearing the beep, Professor Jason Ganley, assistant professor in the Department of Engineering, jumps out of his seat. He checks the settings and hurriedly scribbles down his observations on a notepad and rushes to put the calculations in his computer journal. Ganley is experimenting with what he believes to be the future of renewable energy.
"The energy crisis is a painfully simple thing - our fossil-fuel based economy, in addition to those around the world, is demanding more and more of the Earth's limited resources, and fuel supplies are limited," said Ganley. "New energy sources need to be utilized, and we need to reduce our current energy use through conservation and increasing energy efficiency."
Ganley began his fuel cell research in fall 2004 with funding from a New Faculty Start-Up Grant. "It's about $38,000 a year which is a relatively small amount compared to what other schools get for this type of research," said Ganley.
"A good research project focusing on fuel cell development would probably run about $60,000 per year to cover personnel, supplies, and equipment," said Ganley. Federal funding for this type of research is not up to Ganley's satisfaction; however he believes Howard University has done its fair share in funding. "It was easy to be spoiled by the funding levels enjoyed by the research projects at Illinois," Ganley recalled.
Ganley hopes that the research he is conducting with a post-doctoral associate and three undergraduate chemical engineering students, will assist in efforts to convert the United States from a fossil-fuel based economy to one based on a renewable energy.
"The United States' problem is not its dependence on foreign oil; it's really the dependence on oil in general," said Ganley. "The recognition is higher in other countries that oil is not the answer. There is absolutely no good reason that the U.S. cannot follow these examples."
After hearing the beep, Professor Jason Ganley, assistant professor in the Department of Engineering, jumps out of his seat. He checks the settings and hurriedly scribbles down his observations on a notepad and rushes to put the calculations in his computer journal. Ganley is experimenting with what he believes to be the future of renewable energy.
"The energy crisis is a painfully simple thing - our fossil-fuel based economy, in addition to those around the world, is demanding more and more of the Earth's limited resources, and fuel supplies are limited," said Ganley. "New energy sources need to be utilized, and we need to reduce our current energy use through conservation and increasing energy efficiency."
Ganley began his fuel cell research in fall 2004 with funding from a New Faculty Start-Up Grant. "It's about $38,000 a year which is a relatively small amount compared to what other schools get for this type of research," said Ganley.
"A good research project focusing on fuel cell development would probably run about $60,000 per year to cover personnel, supplies, and equipment," said Ganley. Federal funding for this type of research is not up to Ganley's satisfaction; however he believes Howard University has done its fair share in funding. "It was easy to be spoiled by the funding levels enjoyed by the research projects at Illinois," Ganley recalled.
Ganley hopes that the research he is conducting with a post-doctoral associate and three undergraduate chemical engineering students, will assist in efforts to convert the United States from a fossil-fuel based economy to one based on a renewable energy.
"The United States' problem is not its dependence on foreign oil; it's really the dependence on oil in general," said Ganley. "The recognition is higher in other countries that oil is not the answer. There is absolutely no good reason that the U.S. cannot follow these examples."
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