Synthesizing Light for the Benefit of Humanity
Imagine a world where efficient, digital lighting makes us healthier and more productive, produces significant energy savings, and even provides wireless, optical access to the internet. The Smart Lighting Engineering Research Center will develop new technologies and applications to change the way society uses lighting.
Engineered Smart Lighting Systems will optically sense the environment to provide energy efficient, comfortable illumination when and where it is needed. Beyond illumination, Smart Lighting Systems will simultaneously provide high speed data access and scan for biological and biochemical hazards.
NEWS/EVENTS
Feb 9, 2012: Rensselaer professor Christian Wetzel received the "Iluminating Ideas" award from the Department of Energy (DOE) for "Significant Achievements In Solid State Lighting R&D 2011". The prestigious award was given to only six contractors in the DOE's $114M/yr Solid State Lighting Program. RPI is the only university-based winner of the award.
ERC STUDENT NEWS
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February 21, 2012: Boston University ERC students, Margo Monroe, Alex Reddington, Jacob Trueb, and Joey Greenspun were named as 1 of 10 semi-finalists in the Prize for Primary Healthcare run by CIMIT and have been awarded $10,000 to use toward the final proposal deadline of June 3rd. First prize will be $150,000, with second and third place receiving $100,000, and $50,000 respectively. (http://www.cimit.org/grants-cimitprize.html).
February 13, 2012: Several ERC students were part of the team from Boston University selected as finalists in a $50k New Venture Competition. They will present their business plan for start-up "NexGen Arrays" to develop next-generation microarray slides that provide increased sensitivity for fluorescent assays, and allow label-free mass density measurements. Three prizes will be awarded on April 4, 2012, with first place winning $50,000. (http://www.bu.edu/itec/events/50k-competition/)
Other upcoming Programs
- Design Your Future Day: April 21, 2012. Eleventh grade high school girls with an interest and aptitude in math and science come to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) for an exciting day of hands-on exploration in engineering, science, and technology.
Applications are now being accepted for Summer Programs
- Visit our page about the Research Experience for Undergraduates Summer Program
- (May 29-August 3, 2012). Applications are being accepted until February 29, 2012.
- Applications are now being accepted for the Research Experience for Teachers Summer Program (June 25 - Aug 3, 2012)
- The ERC is sponsoring "Smart Light-Smart Power-Smart Systems", a one-week day enrichment program with a residential option for high school students entering grades 10, 11 or 12 . (July 9-13, 2012)
- High school and middle school general science, physics, math, and technology teachers are encouraged to participate in a one-week program Smart Light-Smart Power-Smart Systems Curriculum Development Program. (June 25 - June 29, 2012)
