Renouard Speaker Addresses Technological Changes

Dr. Michael Kintner-Meyer discussed Engineering Opportunities in Science and Technology in the third and final Renouard Lecture of the academic year on Thursday, March 22.

During the speech, which started at 4 p.m. in Gonzaga’s Wolff Auditorium (Jepson Center), students and faculty heard Dr. Kintner-Meyer discuss some of the technological changes we have experienced in recent decades and their effects (positive and negative) that we have seen nationally and globally.

Although technological changes have created significant wealth and improved health and the human condition, he pointed out they have also left a legacy on the environment that will present us and coming generations with one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century. The talk provided a historic overview of how technology has affected our lives from the perspective of an energy engineer, and highlighted both the challenges we face and the opportunities that technology may create, for aspiring students to contribute toward addressing these challenges.

Dr. Michael Kintner-Meyer has more than 28 years of experience in the international energy and environment field, most of that in R&D, as well as four years of industry practice. He is a “systems thinker” with a broad range of technical competencies, including technology development of devices, broad systems analysis that addresses national and international energy infrastructure operations and expansions, water resources, and economic analysis. He has been with PNNL for 19 years as a Staff Scientist. He holds four patents related to grid-friendly technologies and smart electric vehicle (EV) charging strategies. He received an R&D 100 Award with other PNNL staff for the Grid FriendlyTM Appliance Controller in 2008.

SEAS had hoped to present a second event earlier in the afternoon, but that presentation by Tim Carlsen had to be canceled due to unforeseen circumstances.