Kentucky State University Associate Professor of chemistry and Jefferson Science Fellow (JSF) Dr. Scott Wicker was recently invited to present his fellowship work at the Department of State's Bureau of Energy monthly speaker series. Dr. Wicker presented policy recommendations on the e-Cycling of Solar Panel Modules to key international stakeholders on June 23.
The presentation was recorded internally and disseminated to energy officers in the United States and various U.S. embassies worldwide. Dr. Wicker covered a strategic positivism view on the economic and environmental benefit of e-Cycling solar panels, key policy considerations for untapped potentials in renewable energies, and a detailed look at current case studies on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Mekong Countries strategic climate adaptation shift to renewable energies as a mechanism to reduce their carbon emission and footprint.
"An important aspect of this faculty externship opportunity is to translate my Jefferson Science Fellowship connections into tangible research opportunities for our students such as Donavyn Mosley," shared Dr. Wicker. Donavyn, a junior biology major, is a research assistant (RA) in Dr. Wicker's research group and is supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) HBCU-UP Implementation Grant, "Preparing the Pipeline of Next Generation STEM Professionals."
"We are working collaboratively to write a review article on various recycling methods highlighting differences in solar cell chemistries and possible policies to enhance global e-Cycling environmental and economic impact."
Dr. Wicker was invited to speak to the State's Bureau of Energy after his impactful "Solar Panel Repurposing" presentation for the East Asian and Pacific Affairs Foreign Assistance 101 working group meeting held on May 31. As a result of these two presentations, he was recruited as a mentor for the U.S. Department of State's Smart Cities Business Innovation Fund. Dr. Wicker will mentor researchers at a start-up company to further develop a proposal for building an automated manufacturing facility to recycle solar panels in Vietnam.
Categories: Kentucky, Education