April 14, 2009

Energy Center to host two-day Hydrogen Symposium

The symposium will be held April 22-23 in Stewart Center. More than 15 presentations from industrial, governmental and academic leaders will center on the basic science of hydrogen; on production and storage; and on research into transportation uses.

  "We are particularly pleased that we have been able to include discussions of hydrogen use in transportation in this year's symposium," said Jay Gore, director of the Energy Center. "We will explore state-of-the-art and future plans for hydrogen-fueled cars and space vehicles."

A featured speaker will be William Gerstenmaier, NASA associate administrator for space operations. NASA has been a pioneer in the use of hydrogen since the Apollo era. And its extensive use of hydrogen for the space shuttle program may be key to helping the United States move toward a clean-energy hydrogen economy.

"Having a chance to interact with a NASA administrator and learn from decades of experience with hydrogen-powered fuel cells and rocket engines is a great opportunity," said Timothee Pourpoint, research assistant professor of aeronautics and astronautics and symposium chair. 

Gerstenmaier will discuss the space shuttle's use of hydrogen fuel for its main engines and the use of hydrogen as NASA transitions to Constellation, the next generation of space vehicles.

Purdue students can attend Gerstenmaier's talk and any of the other presentations free of charge. However, they must register in advance. Cost for Purdue faculty and staff is $50.

A complete agenda and registration information is available at https://www.purdue.edu/discoverypark/energy/
events/2009hydrogen/ 

Writer: Judith Barra Austin, 765-494-2432, jbaustin@purdue.edu  

Sources: Jay Gore, 765-494-1610, gore@purdue.edu

Timothee Pourpoint, 765-494-1543, timothee@purdue.edu

Wendy Madore, 765-494-6792, wmadore@purdue.edu  

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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