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Just Released: Harnessing Operational Systems Engineering to Support Peacebuilding Report

12/31/2013

All,

During my time as a Christine Mirzayan Science & Technology Policy Graduate Fellow and a J. Herbert Hollomon Fellow within the National Academy of Engineering (NAE), I was able to work on the Roundtable on Technology, Science, and Peacebuilding that was jointly sponsored by the NAE and the United States Institute of Peace (USIP).

I am happy to report that the NAE and the USIP just release the Harnessing Operational Systems Engineering to Support Peacebuilding report this month.

I am so glad that I was able to contribute some chapter introductions for Kenya and Haiti within this report.

Click the link to download the report!!

Opening Ceremonies of the Co-designed Homes at the Pinoleville Pomo Nation (PPN) on Sept. 21

9/18/2012

I'm pleased to announce that the grand opening of the co-designed homes at the Pinoleville Pomo Nation
will featured in an Open House next Friday, Sept. 21 in Ukiah, CA at 10 am.

Please come if you can!!!

Since March 2008, the Community Assessment of Renewable Energy and Sustainability (CARES) has been partnering with the Pinoleville Pomo Nation (PPN) near Ukiah, CA to co-design culturally-inspired, sustainable housing and renewable energy power systems that utilize sustainability best practices, renewable energy technology, and reflect the long-standing culture of the Pinoleville Pomo Nation.

During that time, this partnership has secured roughly $1.5 million via CITRIS, DOE, HUD, and EPA for construction and funded 2 PhDs and 2 MS projects in the College of Engineering and the Department of Architecture.

Two of the co-designed homes have been built and the PPN conducted “green jobs” training sessions on strawbale construction materials, grey water, and renewable energy systems for its citizens and local labors participating in their construction.

This partnership has been honored with the 2010 Chancellor’s Award for Public Service in the Civic Engagement and has also been featured in UC Berkeley’s College of Engineering's Innovations (October 2008), College of Engineering's Engineering News (December 2008), College of Engineering's ForeFront (Spring 2009), and the University Relations’ Promise of Berkeley (Fall 2009).

Also see Luce video of the project here.

2011 E-Ride EVX2 Delivery

2/17/2011

Good News: The first E-Ride utility vehicle got delivered this week at the PPN!!

I am so excited about this because it is the first step stepping up the electric vehicle charging network along HWY 101 and 1!!

Check out some images here.

CARES Renewable Energy Workshop with the PPN

12/4/2010

On Saturday, December 4th, members from CARES and engineering students from Berkeley's ENG39F CARES seminar class held a Renewable Energy Workshop with members of the Pinoleville Pomo Nation on solar and wind energy systems.

The wind and solar energy session focus on elementary, middle and high school students while the adults attended a planning session where objective were laid out for metering the microhydro and wind energy potential of the PPN lands.

I really enjoyed seeing all the faces of the youth light during these sessions. Everyone seemed really engaged and seemed eager to pursue careers in the renewable energy fields.

Plus, the PPN gave Alice and I some tokens of their appreciation of dedication to this partnership for almost 3 years.

Go here for the pictures from that day.

Talk with Van Jones

11/15/2010

On Friday, I had the pleasure of attending a talk abot Prop 23 by Van Jones.

He gave an excellent lecture on perils associated with rolling back the progress California has made in the areas of renewable energy and sustainability by passing Prop 23.

I also had the chance to speak with Van Jones more CARES (Community Assessment for Renewable Energy and Sustainability) and or work with our tribal partners.

Van Jones is a globally recognized, award-winning pioneer in human rights and the clean-energy economy. He co-founded three successful non-profit organizations: the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, Color of Change and Green For All. He also served as White House environmental adviser for Obama.

Speaking with Van Jones about CARES

Gov. Gray Davis Meeting about Pinoleville Pomo Nation/CARES Partnership

10/7/2010

Today, I had a great opportunity to speak with Gov. Gray Davis about my work with the Pinoleville Pomo Nation during the unveiling of his plaque in the CITRIS Headquarters.

During his time as Governor, Gov. Davis championed energy efficiency and research in renewable energy technology.

He seemed to be really glad that there are researchers at Berkeley working in CITRIS to carry on some of his initiatives in the realm of energy.

Go here to see the full set of images from that day.

Gov. Davis and I talking about the PPN model

Smashcast Meets Berkeley Edge Students

10/2/2010

On Saturday, I had the great pleasure of talking with Smashcast students about pursuing careers in STEM from high school to the doctoral level.

Check out the video below.

I really had a great time speaking with these outstanding future engineers. They are so passionate about STEM careers and going back to their communities to make a difference.

If America wants to maintain it competitive advantage in STEM fields and more towards an innovation economy, we will need more students like the ones in the SMASH Academy and we need to continue to support programs like Berkeley Edge.

Pinoleville Pomo Nation Anemometer Installation on September 17th, 2010

9/22/2010

On Friday, September 17th 2010, I was able to work with members of the Pinoleville Pomo Nation to install a 20 m (60 ft) anemometer to measure the wind speed for power generation.

This work was fund by the Department of Energy and the Tribal Energy Program as apart of a renewable energy feasibility study grant the PPN received.

I had a great time working with everyone and I look forward to getting other CARES student to help out in the microhydro and pyranometer meters as well.

Please go here for the full set of images from that day.

The team after putting up the anemomter

Solar Car Demonstration at Mewuk Acorn Festival

9/15/2010

This past weekend, Josiah of RAEL and I went to the The Tuolumne Band of Mewuk Indians Acorn Festival and had solar energy booth.

We worked with the youth of the Mewuk and surrounding communities to design and build solar cars.

I had a lot of fun and I hope to continue to work with the Mewuk and RAEL.

Go here to see the full gallery of photos.

This is my favorite picture from this weekend:

Community Assessment of Renewable Energy and Sustainability (CARES) Seminar Fall 2010

8/23/2010

Professor Alice Agogino, Mr. Daniel Wilson, and I will be teaching a freshman and sophomore seminar Engineering 39F entitled "Community Assessment of Renewable Energy and Sustainability (CARES)" .

This seminar is on CARES (Community Assessment of Renewable Energy and Sustainability) with application to the Pinoleville Pomo Nation.

CARES research has shown that living sustainably, having access to accurate environmental data, and having implementable solutions are of major concerns to consumers.

CARES seeks to help reduce climate change by being the first to close the loop of assessment, advisement and implementation of a more sustainable lifestyle.

This seminar will cover approaches to community assessment of renewable energy, with a focus on conservation, geothermal, microhydo-electric, solar photovoltaic, solar hot water heating, and wind energy.

We will also explore issues associate with creating a “green corridor” with electric vehicles in the San Francisco Bay Area with connections to Northern California tribes. Related website: http://best.berkeley.edu/ and http://www.planetcares.org/.
Enrollment is limited to ten students.

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