ENERGY, THE UNIVERSITY OF ST THOMAS, AND THE WORLD

Civilization depends on energy yet the very energy systems that make modern civilization possible are also hurting the planet. Hence sustainable energy is essential for modern civilization. This presentation will explore engineering at the University of St Thomas (UST), some of the energy outreach, and what is being done at UST to help secure a sustainable energy future.

About the Speaker:

Greg Mowry

Engineering Professor

Dr. Mowry grew up in Iowa and after living in Idaho for several years now resides in Minnesota along with his wonderful wife Darlene and 3 adult children. He earned a BS and MS in Metallurgical Engineering from Iowa State University. While leading the advanced recording head design teams at Seagate Technology, he earned his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Physics in 1995 from the University of Minnesota.

Prior to becoming a professor, Dr. Mowry spent 25 years in corporate America serving as an inventor, R&D scientist, and engineer. His most substantive corporate efforts emphasized both tape and HDD recording devices & systems research along with product development, magnetics, metrology, Nanotech design and processing, materials, lasers & optics, plus biomedical engineering.

Dr. Mowry is also an entrepreneur with experience in several startups. He is named on 40 patents and has published in four different professional fields of study.

In 2003 Dr. Mowry joined the School of Engineering at the University of St. Thomas and became a full professor. He teaches ME, EE, and Physics courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. He is the founding Director of the MSEE power program and the Director of the Renewable Energy and Alternatives Laboratory.

Professor Mowry is curious about pretty much everything. For the past 14 years his research has focused on reliable, robust, and economic microgrids, alternative energy systems, and power electronics. Microgrids have a wide variety of commercial and humanitarian applications. Humanitarian microgrid projects require non-traditional design approaches since their operation necessitates minimal human intervention and maintenance. Furthermore, the users typically become dependent on the reliable operation of these microgrids hence premature failures may have serious and negative social/political consequences.