Naomi Halas, MA '84, Ph.D. '87 Talks About Life-Saving Potential of Solar Steam Technology in Developing World
How can third world countries get energy—necessary for clean drinking water and medical care—without further damaging the planet? Join renowned physicist Naomi Halas, M.A. ’84, Ph.D. ’87, to explore how new solar technologies can help to solve the urgent problems of sustainable development.
Halas' talk is free and open to the public and takes place at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 22, at Thomas Great Hall. Register for the event here.
The “solar steam” sterilization system developed by Halas' research group at Rice University uses nanomaterials to convert as much as 80 percent of the energy in sunlight into germ-killing heat.
“Sanitation and sterilization are enormous obstacles without reliable electricity, says Halas. “Solar steam’s efficiency at converting sunlight directly into steam opens up new possibilities for off-grid sterilization that simply aren’t available today.”
Halas, one of the pioneering researchers in the field of plasmonics, is Rice University’s Stanley C. Moore Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Professor of Chemistry, Professor of Physics and Astronomy, Professor of Bioengineering, Founding Director of the Laboratory for Nanophotonics, and Founding Director of the Smalley Curl Institute.
This event is Sponsored by the Office of the President. Contact Marge Pyle, mpyle@brynmawr.edu, for more information.