UOG engineering students getting research experience on renewable energy at a national lab
UOG engineering students getting research experience on renewable energy at a national lab
UOG engineering students getting research experience on renewable energy at a national lab
6/8/2023
Two School of Engineering students at the University of Guam are immersed in a summer internship, learning alongside scientists about renewable energy at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in Richland, Washington.
Anna Lhyn O. Mallari and Merry Jubilaine U. Remetira, both juniors in the UOG Civil Engineering Program, are spending 10 weeks this summer at PNNL. The national laboratory is being run for the U.S. Department of Energy.
Their internships with PNNL are part of a $1.695 million in U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science, Basic Energy Sciences-Reaching a New Energy Sciences Workforce (BES-RENEW) Program grant for UOG. To see a previous story on the grant, go to: https://bit.ly/3qkQzRx
Through its collaboration with the national laboratory, UOG aims at establishing the foundation for clean energy research in the Micronesia region to facilitate engagement with students and faculty from other colleges in the region.
A UOG associate professor of chemistry, Dr. John Limtiaco, also is getting research experience at the national laboratory this summer as part of the renewable energy grant. Dr. Limtiaco is the principal investigator for the grant.
For Mallari, having the opportunity to work in a national laboratory is a great privilege.
“Throughout the program, I am eager to apply the theories and concepts we learn inside the classroom to solving real-world problems,” Mallari said. “This research program made me aware of the importance of having a sustainable energy source for the island of Guam, particularly by utilizing its abundance of seawater resources.”
“As an aspiring civil engineer, my aim is to bring back the knowledge and experiences gained from this program and actively contribute to the construction of a renewable energy that promotes island sustainability,” Mallari added.
Mallari and Remetira expressed their hopes to use what they learned at the national laboratory for future careers that will benefit Guam.
"Through this research internship, my aim is to broaden my understanding of the chemical characteristics of seawater and its potential in aiding clean energy solutions,” Remetira said. “As an aspiring civil and environmental engineer, I plan to utilize the insights gained from this amazing opportunity to effectively tackle challenges on energy resources within our island community.”