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October 16, 2009 at the Town and Country (Spring Branch) Campus of Northwest College. The
symposium’s audience will consist of North Forest & Spring Branch ISD students and HCC
students.
Through this announcement, we are requesting applications for Topic Group Leaders whose
areas of expertise and interest fit the symposium topics. All qualified HCC full-time and part-time
faculty are encouraged to apply for this fellowship. A $500.00 stipend will be awarded to each
Topic Group Leader.
The responsibilities for each Topic Group Leader will include recruitment and coordination of
one or two speakers for each topic and ensure that the content is appropriate to the
topic/subtopics, and that clear and concise student career paths and employment opportunities
are included in the presentation. The final topic group-“Energy Careers and Education”-will be
presented as a capstone to the various symposium topics. It is anticipated that each of the
faculty led topic workshops will run at least twice during the Symposium. Presenters may
include individuals from education, business, professional societies, organizations and industry.
A Topic Group Leader may also participate as a presenter.
Applications should be in MS Word format and submitted electronically to Drs. Richard Merritt or
Juan Carlos Reina (richard.merritt@hccs.edu, juan.reina@hccs.edu) by May 31, 2009.
Successful applicants will be notified of their proposal’s acceptance by June 30, 2009.
Following the final selection of Topic Group Leaders, a Timeline for Event Development and a
Faculty Letter of Agreement will be forwarded.
Thank you for your consideration in this matter. We are looking forward to a rewarding and
beneficial symposium for HCC students and potential HCC students alike.
Topic Groups for Fall 2009 Energy Symposium
For the Topic Groups, the subject of Energy has been broken down into five key areas,
including Current Status of Energy Production and Use, Energy Policy and Politics,
Transportation Energy Choices, Energy Generating Technologies and Energy Careers
and Education.
Each Topic Group is further subdivided into at least two subtopics, which may be
addressed by one or two speakers. The final topic, Energy Careers and Education, will
be presented as a capstone at the end of the day, and will involve all attendees.
Energy is the vital “force” that “powers” business, manufacturing, and the transportation of
goods and services which serve the global economies. Often, discussions concerning
energy are far too narrow in scope, and usually focus simply on ether production or
environmental protection. Independent of the type of energy source, a broader, more thoughtful
and informed view should include a discussion of energy availability, affordability, reliability,
profitability, environmental and resource impact, safety, and sustainability. Only in this wider
The supply and demand of energy plays a crucial role in our national security and the economic
output of our nation. The United States spends over 500 billion dollars annually on energy. To
meet the growing needs for energy, clean fuel initiatives must be established which maximize
traditional fossil fuels, while at the same time research must be supported which develops
sustainable energy resources such as solar and hydrogen. The delicate balance between
energy production and environmental protection must also be weighed carefully on both a
national and global scale.
Transportation is essential to modern economies, and provides the ability to freely and to
inexpensively move goods and people. Transportation is the most rapidly growing consumer of
the world’s energy, and is overwhelmingly in the form of oil. In The United States, transportation
energy use accounts for about 67% of total liquid fuels demand, and is expected to increase to
73% by 2030. China and India have recently become major vehicle manufacturers, and China is
now the second-largest consumer of automobiles. The impact of alternative energy sources,
public transportation, and advances in communications technologies on transportation’s
dependence on oil is currently being debated.
1. Current Status and Outlook for Traditional Energy Sources and Use
• Gasoline and Diesel
Electricity will remain the fastest growing form of end-use energy worldwide. Almost one-half of
the projected increase in energy consumption worldwide through 2030 will be attributed to the
generation of electricity. Most power plants burn fuel in the form of coal, oil, and natural gas
which generates steam that drives a turbine that generates electricity. Coal is responsible for
57%of the electricity generated in the United States, but is also responsible for 73% of the
carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere from electricity generators.
1. Energy Sources
• Coal, and Clean Coal Technology
• Oil
• Natural Gas
• Hydroelectric
• Nuclear
• Alternative Sources, including solar, wind, algae and solid wastes
• Transmission Infrastructure
The United States is increasing its efforts to produce cleaner and more reliable energy, and to
use it more efficiently. This creates an immediate need for skilled professionals to make these
goals a reality, and solidify U.S. leadership in energy efficiency and renewable energy. The
opportunity afforded the nation to invest in the U.S. labor force and in cutting-edge green
technologies at the same time is now upon us.