NEW YORK, Aug. 30, 2006 – ASME this November will sponsor a series of technical sessions on energy, focusing on the problems in global supply networks and possible solutions through technology-based research and development.

The sessions will be held Nov. 7-9, 2006, at the Chicago Hilton.  They will comprise a special industry-oriented track within the overall program of the 2006 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and include paper presentations and panel discussions.

In the track, engineers and scientists will assess the current state of international energy markets and report on the progress of various technology programs that have been promoted as strategic options for meeting increasing worldwide demand.  These technologies include fuel cells, coal gasification, and alternative fuels such as wind and solar power.

Laura Schaefer, a professor of engineering at the University of Pittsburgh and participant in the energy track, believes wind power has become economically feasible and also notes the rising use of solar photovoltaic materials in residential and commercial buildings.  “Renewable energy sources are not being utilized to their maximum advantage,” says Schaefer, who also is a proponent of conservation and technology advances to increase power plant efficiency.

Participants in the energy track will examine integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) systems and hydrogen fuel, as well as the role of waste-to-energy and nuclear power in meeting the demand for electricity.  The energy track will encompass eleven sessions in all, and feature commentary and expert analysis from technical professionals in industry and the research community.

The objective of the energy track at the 2006 ASME Congress is to convey practical information to engineers as well as other professionals and the general public.  “We hope that panelists and attendees will come away from the sessions with a broader perspective on the current energy situation in the United States and the world, and consider the development of tools to address this situation,” said Schaefer.

The Congress will open on Nov. 5 and feature eight other technical tracks, along with sessions on new advances in manufacturing, aerospace, automobile safety, and a range of other subjects in the field of engineering.

Founded in 1880 as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ASME is a not-for-profit professional organization promoting the art, science and practice of mechanical and multidisciplinary engineering and allied sciences.  ASME develops codes and standards that enhance public safety, and provides lifelong learning and technical exchange opportunities benefiting the engineering and technology community.

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