Schedule of Events
The Symposium will be presented in-person on the Valparaiso University campus, although speakers can also be viewed via Zoom/youtube. See the main page for specific details on location and the virtual links. Access to the Zoom site will begin 15 minutes before the first session. For any questions or technical challenges during the conference, please contact jennifer.holt@valpo.edu.
The colors below indicate the themes for the day, including scientific updates, policy/outreach focused talks, and social time. Full abstracts and biographies for each talk are given on the "Speakers" page. Please join us for the full day of interesting information!
8:45 Welcoming Remarks
Eric Johnson, Provost, Valparaiso University
Kevin Jantzi, Chemistry Department Chair, Valparaiso University
8:45-9:05AM Has home solar reached its time in the sun?
Christopher Iceman, Valparaiso University, Gilles Charriere, NABCEP PV Associate, and Julien Smith, Valparaiso University (tentative)
9:05-9:25AM Energizing Hoosiers for Solar and an Equitable Clean Energy Transition
Dan Robinson, Solar United Neighbors
9:25-10:10 AM Future of H2 economy
Alexey Silakov, Penn State University
10:10-10:30 Coffee break
10:30-10:50 Solar at Night: Solar Thermochemistry to Produce Solar Fuels and Enable Long Duration Energy Storage
Luke Venstrom, Valparaiso University
10:50-11:30 Bringing the Mammoth Solar Farm to Northwest Indiana
Nick Cohen, CEO of Doral Renewables, Nathan Origer, Director of Pulaski County Community Development Commission, and Karla Redweik, Pulaski County Building Inspector
11:30-12:20 Renewable Energy in Germany: A History of ‘Energiewende’
John Golbeck, Penn State University
Unfortunately, Dr. Golbeck cannot be with us - the schedule will be adjusted slightly to fill in, so please check back for a slightly modified timeline
12:20-1:20 Lunch - provided by Valparaiso University
1:30-1:55 Environmental Activism by the Square Foot
Rev. Michael Cooper
1:55-2:20 Sustaining Flight: Working in Agriculture and Biodiversity in Central America
Momin Mirza, Valparaiso University Study Abroad Student
2:20-2:50 Valparaiso University Plastic Audit
Julie Whitaker, Julie Peller, Rachel Painter and Tyler Kuss
2:50-3:00 Closing Remarks