Energy@UT News

Self-Cooling “Longhorn Beetle” Inspires Developments in Energy Efficiency 

Cockrell School of Engineering researchers have developed a photonic film based on the wing structure of the longicorn beetle—nicknamed longhorn beetles—which allows it to survive volcanic areas in Southeast Asia. The team’s film uses flexible, strong, and common materials, which could allow them to be mass-produced. Most notably, its passive cooling nature make it energy efficient, opening up potential applications in buildings, cars, fabrics, and electronics. Read more about this research here.

In the Age of COVID-19, Five Lessons from Oil & Gas Experts 

Last month, the Cockrell School’s Hildebrand Department of Petroleum & Geosystems Engineering  hosted a webinar featuring thought leaders from both the industry and academic sides of oil and gas. Speakers shared key insights into the future of the industry and job prospects in the face of an economic downturn, such as possible restructuring, opportunities to alleviate energy poverty, hallmarks of good energy investments, and pursuing sustainability. See the takeaways here.

Climate, Community Resilience Focus of A2SI Annual Sustainability Report 

The Austin Area Sustainability Indicators (A2SI) project’s newly released 2020 report spotlights climate and community resilience in the Austin metro area. Given that some Austin communities are disproportionately vulnerable to climate hazards, researchers from the College of Liberal Arts and LBJ School of Public Affairs partnered with community and sustainability-minded organizations to produce a multi-risk assessment for these areas. Read the full report here.

Forecasting Problems in Urban Water Infrastructure with Data-Driven, Adaptable Models

With support from a major new grant, UT professors working in the National Science Foundation’s Innovations at the Nexus of Food, Energy, & Water Systems program will develop forecasting methods to identify future problems with water quality in urban water infrastructure. The project—led by faculty from the Department of Civil, Architectural, & Environmental Engineering and the Department of Statistics & Data Sciences—aims to create adaptable, data-driven models that can pinpoint lapses in water quality. Read more about this INFEWS project here.

Delia Milliron Named Next Chair of McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering at UT 

Distinguished researcher and professor Dr. Delia Milliron has been named the next Chair of the McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, beginning January 16, 2021. Dr. Milliron joined UT Austin as a faculty member in 2013. She currently holds the T. Brockett Hudson Professorship in Chemical Engineering and is best known for her work developing “smart window” coating technology to make buildings more energy efficient. Read more about Dr. Milliron here.

NASEM Appoints Varun Rai to New Decarbonization Committee  

The National Academies of Science, Engineering, & Medicine has appointed Varun Rai, director of the Energy Institute, to a new ad-hoc committee tasked with assessing policy, technological, and societal pathways to accelerating decarbonization. Committee members will examine the technological challenges, equity drivers, sectoral impacts, and coordinated federal, state, and local policy channels that can facilitate the U.S. economy's transition to long-term zero emissions goals. Read more about the committee here.