August 2, 2014

SECU Rewind: Inaugural SEC Symposium

Ambassador Susan Shine provides a keynot address at the 2013 SEC Symposium

By: Bryant Welbourne
SECU (Twitter: @TheSECU)

Take a quick glance at a few highlights from the inaugural SEC Symposium.

The inaugural SEC Symposium took place Feb. 10-12, 2013, at the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta. Led by the University of Georgia and Bob Scott, Associate Vice President for Research and Chair of UGA’s Local Organizing Committee, the event was titled, “Impact of the Southeast in the World’s Renewable Energy Future.”

The 2013 SEC Symposium featured presentations on a wide-variety of topics on renewable energy. Keynote addresses were provide by:

• Dr. Sam Baldwin, Chief Science Officer, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy
• Mr. Steven Mirshak, Global Business Director, DuPont Cellulosic Ethanol
• Ambassador Susanne Shine, Deputy Chief of Mission, The Royal Danish Embassy

Dr. Michael F. Adams, former President of the University of Georgia, spoke at the SEC Presidents, Chancellors and Provosts Reception. He thanked the event sponsors, which included Green Power EMC, the AGCO Corporation, EPSCoR of Kentucky and Tennessee, the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, South Coast Solar and the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum.

SEC Symposium attendees had an opportunity to present their research in a poster exhibition, and awards were given to student poster authors.

• Undergraduate Student Division

    First Place: Travis Williams, University of Georgia
    Second Place: Sherrad Davidson, Louisiana State University

• Graduate Student Division

    First Place (tie): Christopher Bobryk, University of Missouri
    First Place (tie): Robert Mueller, University of Florida

• Post-Doctoral Student Division

    First Place: Berenger Biannic, University of Tennessee
    Second Place: Sougata Bardhan, University of Missouri

The University of Florida won the Excellence in Student Attendance Award, which went to the university with the most students registered and attending the SEC Symposium. The SEC made a donation to Florida’s general scholarship fund to recognize the accomplishment.