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Abstract:
Research leaders and industry experts from around the world are to take part in a major solar energy workshop at the University of Ulster's Jordanstown campus on Wednesday.

Here Comes The Sun

Jordanstown, Ireland | Posted on February 28th, 2011

It is being hosted by the Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials Research Institute (NAMRI) and will focus on all aspects of harnessing energy from the sun, where nanomaterials can play a key role.

The event, entitled ‘Photovoltaics' (solar energy), has been organised by Dr Davide Mariotti (pictured), a Reader at NAMRI who is heading up research in nanomaterials for photovoltaics at Ulster's School of Engineering.

He explained: "The workshop will try and point us in the right direction, as to how we can improve the efficiency of today's solar energy and reduce costs, making it cheaper and better.

"This is an immensely important issue to focus on, as there is no doubt solar energy will be one of the main contributors of energy production in the future. The sun is there, so why don't we use it."

The event is the first in a series of workshops, which will concentrate on the theme, "Nano for Clean Technologies."

Said Dr Mariotti: "The progress and development of ‘Clean Technologies' across all disciplines is the focus of many of the research and teaching activities at the University of Ulster.

"Many of the breakthroughs that will allow a sustainable technology environment rely strongly on novel and advanced materials which are the basis of nanotechnology."

The workshop takes place on Wednesday March 3 from 9am until 5pm at the NIBEC centre. Admission is free and the event is open to Ulster staff and students.

International speakers include:

Dr Vladimir Švrc'ek (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science & Technology, Tsukuba, Japan)

Dr Steffan Cook (Visiting Researcher - University of Ulster)

Dr Calum Dickinson (University of Limerick, Ireland)

Dr Zachary Holman (Ecolé Polythechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland)

Dr Dominic Zerulla (University College Dublin)

Dr Frédéric Juillerat (Oerlikon Solar, Switzerland)

Dr Donagh O'Mahony (The Tyndall National Institute - University College Cork, Ireland)

Dr Kevin M. Ryan (University of Limerick, Ireland)

Professor Igor Shvets (Trinity College, Dublin)

Dr Graham Dransfield (DyeSol Limited, Australia)