Clean Energy Event at UCF on Feb. 23rd

Citizens for Clean Energy is kicking-off an educational tour at three Florida universities to discuss the potential for new clean energy jobs here in the Sunshine State. The goal of the tour, called "It's all about jobs," is to communicate to students, faculty, businesses, and surrounding communities the importance and economic potential of a renewable energy industry in Florida.

"The students in Florida are the future and getting them excited about the economic development potential of Florida is a priority," said Ben Amaba, IBM. "After they graduate, they want to know that there will be good high-paying jobs waiting for them and a renewable energy industry here in Florida could make that possible.

Each tour stop will include a panel discussion with experts from renewable energy companies, decision makers, educators, and other groups and will include a question and answer period.

Details of the tour:
o University of Florida, Feb. 16, 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
o University of Central Florida, Feb. 23, 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (Cape Florida Ballroom, Student Union)
o Eckerd College, March 5, 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Citizens for Clean Energy
Citizens for Clean Energy is a coalition of leaders, organizations, and concerned Americans committed to supporting education and public policy change that advance clean energy jobs and technologies to improve our economy, energy security and our environment.

Topics to be discussed with panelists

· Florida’s challenging economy

· Florida’s need to diversify

· If not this industry, then what industry?

· Global opportunities at Florida’s doorstep

· Energy Sector creates immediate job creation

· Unemployment and the cost it puts on tax payers.

· Types of Jobs the renewable energy industry has to offer

· The economic impact that comes with a new industry

· Environmental benefits

Thank you.

Madhavi (Maddy) Chokshi
Information Specialist
Office of Research & Commercialization
University of Central Florida
12201 Research Parkway, Suite 501
Orlando, FL 32826
(407) 882-1141

Looking for funding?
Go to http://www.cos.com/

Seminar - Sajeev John, Friday, February 24th, from 11 to 12, CREOL Room 102

NANOSCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND

ADVANCED MATERIALS PROCESSING AND ANALYSIS CENTER SEMINAR

Title: Solar Light Trapping and Harvesting with 3D Photonic Crystals

Professor Sajeev John

Department of Physics

University of Toronto

Toronto, Ontario

CANADA

http://www.physics.utoronto.ca/~john

Day & Date: Friday, February 24, 2012

Time: 11 am – 12 Noon

Venue: CREOL – The College of Optics & Photonics

Conference Room 102.

“Light Refreshments will be served”.

Abstract: Photonic crystals are artificial periodic dielectric structures with the distinguishing characteristic of trapping and localizing light. While many important applications of photonic crystals are associated with the occurrence of a photonic band gap, light trapping for the purpose of solar energy harvesting is facilitated by spectral regions with a very high electromagnetic density of states. We describe designs of 3D photonic crystal silicon-based solar cells that enhance the overall absorption of sunlight using a three-section architecture consisting of less than 1 micron (equivalent bulk thickness) of silicon and no metallic mirrors. The three sections are (i) an antireflection (AR) layer consisting of a lattice of nanocones placed on top of simple cubic photonic crystal (ii) the 3D simple cubic photonic crystal (average rod diameter 170 nm and 350 nm lattice spacing) that traps light through a novel parallel-to-interface refraction (PIR) effect and (iii) a chirped photonic crystal back-reflector (BR) designed to absorb near-infrared light. Each rod contains a radial P-N junction and comprises an entire solar cell, with regions between the rods filled with silica (to mechanically protect the array) up to the tip of the nano-cones. These structures exhibit exceptionally good light absorption over a broad range of incident angles from 0 to 80 degrees. They can absorb roughly 75%-80% of all available sunlight above the electronic band gap of silicon. These nanostructured photonic crystals offer additional opportunities in combined photonic and electronic management to achieve and possibly surpass the Shockley-Queisser power efficiency limit of roughly 33%.

Biography: Sajeev John is a "University Professor" at the University of Toronto and Government of Canada Research Chair. He received his Bachelors degree in physics in 1979 from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his Ph.D. in physics at Harvard University in 1984. His Ph.D. work at Harvard originated the theory of classical wave localization and in particular the localization of light in three-dimensional strongly scattering dielectrics. From 1986-1989 he was an assistant professor of physics at Princeton University. While at Princeton, he co-invented (1987) the concept of photonic band gap materials, providing a systematic route to his original conception (1984) of the localization of light. In 1989 he joined the senior faculty at the University of Toronto.

For Further information please contact Dr. Jayan Thomas (Jayan. Thomas @ ucf. edu)

Contact:

Ushaben Lal

NanoScience Technology Center

Phone: 407-882-0032

Email: ushai @ ucf. edu

Seminar: 3.9.12 / CREOL 102 / 11-12pm / “Five Easy Pieces, Lost in Translation”, Kamran Badizadegan

Seminar: “Five Easy Pieces, Lost in Translation”, Kamran Badizadegan

CREOL 102

Friday, March 9, 2012 / 11-12pm

Kamran Badizadegan, MD

Nemours Children's Hospital

Abstract:

There has been a phenomenal growth in basic science and engineering over the past two decades, and the news media and funding agencies are regularly inundated with promises of cure and transformation in healthcare. However, the translational chasm between the bench and the bedside appears wider than ever, and except for incremental (albeit significant) improvements in existing biomedical technologies, there has been little tangible impact from promising new technologies on day-to-day delivery of medical care. This presentation focuses on the author’s personal experience as a physician-scientist working at the interface of science, technology and medicine, trying to close the translational gap between technological innovations, biomedical sciences and diagnostic medicine. Through a set of scientific and clinical vignettes primarily drawn from the work conducted at the MIT Spectroscopy Laboratory and ranging from diagnostic spectroscopy quantitative microscopy, the author reflects on the lessons of the past to provide a framework for future translational research in biomedical optics.

Biography:

Kamran Badizadegan graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with a degr­ee in Chemical Engineering. He completed his medical education at Harvard Medical School (HMS) and the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology (HST), and trained in anatomic pathology at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Children’s Hospital Boston. He joined the faculty of HMS in 1997 as an attending pathologist at Children’s Hospital Boston, where he also conducted research in epithelial cell biology at the Harvard Digestive Diseases Center. A the same time, he began a small research collaboration with the MIT Spectroscopy Laboratory which over the subsequent decade evolved into a multidisciplinary research partnership in diagnostic spectroscopy and biomedical optics. At the time of his departure from the group in 2009, Kamran was associate director of the Spectroscopy Lab and a core investigator of the MIT Laser Biomedical Research Center. Kamran’s clinical activities shifted from Children’s Hospital to Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in 2003, where he served as the head of pediatric pathology and an associate in gastrointestinal pathology. As an HST faculty and member of the Academy at HMS, Kamran played a key role in education of medical and graduate students working at the interface of medicine, science and technology. In 2011, Kamran left Harvard and MGH to help Nemours build an academic pathology department at the brand new facilities of the Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando, where he serves as the Chair of Pathology and Director of Nemours Pathology Network.

For More Information:

Bahaa E. A. Saleh

Dean, College of Optics and Photonics

besaleh @ creol. ucf. edu

DON'T DELAY!!! REGISTER NOW to participate in the TRDA 2012 Clean Tech Venture Initiative

Register NOW to Participate in TRDA's 2012 Clean Tech Venture Initiative Want to Raise Venture Capital and Grow Your Business? If you're a Florida Clean Tech company you should register NOW to participate in the 2012 TRDA Clean Tech Venture Initiative. About Clean Tech Ventures Clean Tech Ventures is a part of the i2 Capital Accelerator, which is a program of the Technological Research and Development Authority (TRDA). The i2 Clean Tech Ventures program consists of four weeks of intense mentoring that kicks off with a two-day business boot camp. The i2 Mentor Network is a statewide network of "been there, done that" technology entrepreneurs that have founded and raised capital for their own companies. Our mentors have collectively raised over $300 million for their own companies, and will work with you to prepare your company (team, financial statements, business plan, sales/marketing strategy and much more) for the capital raising process. The i2 team has a network of angels, venture capitalists and pre-seed funding resources within our i2 Ventures Network to accelerate the connection of great companies to Florida's investment community. Mentoring sessions will begin on March 22nd and April 12th 2012. The most promising companies from each i2 Clean Tech Ventures session will be invited to participate in the annual Igniting Innovation Showcase, which will be held in September 2012. The i2 showcase attracts investors, mentors and industry partners from all over the country, and has a $100,000 grant award for the most promising presenting company. The winning company will be selected by attending venture capitalists based on revenue growth potential within five years and the ability to create a return for investors. What are the Benefits of Participating in the i2 Program? Fast Track selection opportunity for i2 Showcase and the $100,000 grant competition Immediate, honest feedback on your business plan, and its potential attractiveness to angels, venture capitalists or other sources of capital Accelerated path to the i2 Ventures Network (angels, venture capital firms, gap funding sources) Ongoing access to a deep, statewide network of experienced "been there, done that" mentors that have walked in your shoes and raised capital for their own companies Quick-drop education on best practices for business plan development, financial modeling, market strategies and closing your first customers Access to a statewide network of critical business service providers at reduced rates Usage of the TRDA Innovation Center for workspace, meetings and classrooms What are the Criteria to Participate in the i2 Program? Florida-based technology Clean Tech companies with the following criteria are eligible: Headquartered in Florida with at least 80% of employees also in Florida Potential for rapid revenue growth within five years Relevant technical expertise on team for product strategy In the Clean Tech/Alternative Energy sectors What is the Cost to Participate? There is no cost to apply to the i2 Clean Tech Ventures program. If your company is selected to participate, there is a $250 fee to participate in the four week mentoring session. This fee includes the kickoff boot camp, all mentoring sessions, and access to the TRDA facilities for workspace and meetings. We also will provide three months of limited post-session support (maximum of five hours/month) for i2 Cleantech Ventures graduate companies that have been selected to participate in the i2 Showcase, which will be held in late September. Companies may be selected for one of three different showcase categories - $100,000 competition finalist, non-competing presenter, or exhibitor. There are no additional costs for post-session investor introductions for companies that are ready to meet with investors, nor is there a fee to participate in the i2 Annual Showcase if your company is selected to present. How Do I Apply? Simply fill out the online application located at www.i2florida.com/how-to-apply. If you are selected for the March 2012 session, a mandatory two-day kickoff boot camp will be held at the TRDA Business Innovation Center in Melbourne, Florida on March 22 and 23, 2012. If you are selected for the April 2012 session the mandatory boot camp will be held on April 12 and 13, 2012. Applications for the March session are due by February 29, 2012 and for the April session by March 30, 2012. Selections will be announced no later than March 2, 2012 and April 2, 2012. Questions? Contact Brenda McMillan at bmcmillan@trda.org or (321) 872-1050 ext. 103.

Educational Seminar - Learn how the Library can help GROW your Business!

FY 2012 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Soliciatation

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program FY 2012 Solicitation is open. The Phase I solicitation will close on March 2, 2012. SBIR is a competitive program that encourages domestic small businesses to engage in federally funded R&D opportunities that have the potential for commercialization.

The solicitation describes 12 specific technologies for development. In the category of Manufacturing, they include:

• · Development of a Microcompressor for Miniaturized Cryocooling
• · High-Precision, Random Profile Roughness Specimens
• · Low-cost Stabilized Diode Lasers for Displacement Measurements
• · Non-contact Microwave Measurement of Electrical Properties of Nanofiber Materials
• · Power Meter for EUV Lithography Sources
• · Query-based Geometric Interoperability for Advanced Manufacturing
• · Silicon Ion Source for Isotopically Enriched Deposition
• · X-ray Chemical Shift Mapping for Industrial Materials Analysis

In the category of Information Technology and Cybersecurity:

• · High-Power, High-Speed Photodiodes
• · Microfabricated High-Frequency Connectors for Millimeter-Wave Technology
• · Ultrafast Photodetector for Probing Coplanar Waveguide Electrical Circuits
• · Web Services-Biometric Devices (WS-BD) Conformant Handheld Fingerprint Sensor

You may view the solicitation at: https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=4f865ee6db0b106fbb1fee7258047507&tab=core&_cview=0.

More information about the NIST SBIR program is available at: http://www.nist.gov/sbir.

GrowFL Webinar Series - SBA Lending Workshop - 3/5 Hetal Engineer

~ Free GrowFL Webinar Series ~ SBA Lending Workshop: "How to Utilize the SBA Loan Programs To Improve Cash Flow and Grow Your Business" Learn how to utilize the SBA loan programs for business start-up, business acquisitions, refinance, real estate purchases and expansion financing. Does your company qualify for SBA financing? Which SBA program fits your financing needs the best? Join GrowFL and Hetal Engineer to learn the features and benefits of the SBA lending programs to best utilize for your business growth. Presented by: Hetal Engineer Monday, March 5, 2012 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Hetal Engineer presently serves as SBA (Small Business Administration) Business Development Officer for the Central Florida Region of SunTrust Bank. Mr. Engineer was born in Lusaka, Zambia and immigrated to the U.S as a child. He obtained his Bachelor’s in Accounting and MBA – Finance Concentration from the University of Central Florida. Mr. Engineer began his banking career at SunTrust Bank in 1993 and later transitioned to Banco Popular, Community South Bank and Wells Fargo Bank to assist each company to establish/grow their SBA Lending Department in Central Florida. Mr. Engineer has funded well over $100 million dollars in SBA loans (all to privately owned small businesses) during his career to assist providing capital to many start-up businesses and expanding established businesses. Mr. Engineer has assisted numerous small business owners achieve their business ownership dreams and see the impact of employment growth and financial success of small businesses. Mr. Engineer has assisted SunTrust Bank achieve #1 ranking in SBA loans closed in the Central Florida region. To attend this free webinar, please register: Click here to register Hosted By: The Florida Economic Gardening Institute at the University of Central Florida was established in 2009. Initially funded by the Florida Legislature, the Institute has provided services via the State of Florida’s Economic Gardening Technical Assistance Pilot Program, known as GrowFL. With various partnerships throughout the state, the Institute collaborates with statewide partners to support the growth of second-stage businesses through localized entrepreneurial ecosystems. To view our program requirements and apply, click

Florida Economic Gardening Institute | 12201 Research Parkway | Orlando | FL | 32826 | US