Monday, September 14, 2015  
Nardone works on solar energy reliability | Albert honored by professional association
Marco Nardone with the solar panels on the Ice Arena roof

Nardone works to make solar energy more reliable, cost efficient

Energy from the sun — it sounds so abundant, clean and sustainable. However, actually translating solar energy into electrical power is a fairly complicated and expensive process. Dr. Marco Nardone, a theoretical physicist in the School of Earth, Environment and Society, is working with the U.S. Department of Energy to make materials used in solar electricity technology more durable and less costly.

"Solar energy is going to explode, and there's a growing market for it," Nardone said. "The Department of Energy and others are putting a fair amount of research into it. The goal of our research is to make these commercially relevant technologies more reliable."

He has been collaborating with the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) in Golden, Colo., through a three-year, $6 million grant from the Department of Energy. BGSU's part of the overall funding is $225,000, which will support Nardone's research and a graduate student for the project. BGSU is the only university working with NREL on the solar energy grant.

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Popular Culture featured as an offbeat major – The Wall Street Journal

BGSU ranked in U.S. News and World Report – The Blade



Albert honored with professional award

James Albert (right) accepts the Founders Award from the American Statistical Association.
Dr. James Albert, mathematics and statistics, has received the prestigious Founders Award from the American Statistical Association (ASA). Albert was among three people honored with the award last month at the association's presidential awards ceremony at the 2015 Joint Statistical Meetings, held in Seattle.

The ASA is the nation's preeminent professional statistical society.

"The Founders Award is the American Statistical Association's highest recognition for distinguished service and leadership within the association and the statistical science profession," said ASA President David R. Morganstein.

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IN BRIEF

STEM in the Park, a free, family day of hands-on fun at the University, will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 26 at the Perry Field House. It will feature interactive displays and activities created by community partners, local businesses and area universities to engage children of all ages in the STEM fields.

Learn more about STEM in the Park, In Brief.