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 "High-risk idea" becomes new scientific discipline
 Allen J.Bard honored by President Obama
 Oilfield Review article highlights promising GCEP research (image courtesy of Schlumberger)
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From the Director
Six years ago, GCEP funded a team of Stanford researchers to test a novel idea for a solar device that uses light and heat from the sun to generate electricity. Stanford scientists Nick Melosh and Z-X Shen, together with doctoral student Jared Schwede, called their new technology "photon-enhanced thermionic emission," or PETE. The idea of combining sunlight and solar heat is the kind of "outside the box" technology that GCEP eagerly supports. Today, I am pleased to report that PETE has grown from a "high-risk idea" into a full-fledged scientific discipline recognized around the world. Find out how this technology could become a game-changer by doubling the efficiency of conventional solar photovoltaic cells.
In other news, chemist and GCEP investigator Allen J. Bard was recently honored by President Obama at the White House for outstanding scientific achievement. Deemed the "father of modern electrochemistry," Bard shares insights from a research career that spans more than five decades.
Schlumberger, one of our original sponsors, featured a major article on GCEP in its quarterly publication, Oilfield Review. This excellent report, entitled In Search of Clean, Affordable Energy, traces the early days of GCEP and highlights several of our most promising research efforts to date.
And finally, I am honored to announce that, in addition to my leadership role at GCEP, I have been named director of the Precourt Institute for Energy, the hub of energy research and education at Stanford. My colleague, Roland Horne, has been appointed deputy director of Precourt. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve both GCEP and Precourt in coming years, and strengthen the natural synergy that exists between these two exceptional organizations.
Many thanks for your time and continuing support. Have a great summer!
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