May 1 - A New Energy Paradigm: Microgrids
The National Academy of Engineering includes the electrical power system as one of the top engineering achievements of the twentieth century. Abundant and available electric power helped spur America’s economic development and distributed benefits widely, from cities to farms. This achievement clearly shines as an example of how engineering has changed the world. But today as we look at our energy needs there is a need to rethink the delivery of electricity. We need higher efficiencies, less emissions and better reliability. Progress towards these objectives can be achieved by moving generation sources close to the loads allowing for effective use of waste heat and increased reliability. The resulting complexity of many small sources can be reduced using microgrid concepts. A microgrid is an aggregation of loads and micro-sources operating as a single system providing both power and heat. This control flexibility allows the microgrid to present itself to the bulk power system as a single controlled unit that meets local needs for reliability and security.
May 8 - Explore South Pole Science
Ever wonder what it would be like to live at the South Pole for a year? Freija Descamps found out when she spent 13 months including a long, dark winter operating and maintaining the IceCube Neutrino Observatory. Hear about her adventures working on the biggest and strangest telescope in the world.
Learn from researchers from around the world who are developing new ways to explore the Universe from the South Pole. Hear about neutrinos, the mysterious cosmic messengers that IceCube detects, and what they are telling us about the composition of matter, cosmic explosions, and more. Activities and displays will be open at 6pm outside of the Town Center Forum in the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery.
May 15 - Great Stakes in Our Great Lakes: How Smart Restoration Efforts Can Help Nature and People
The condition of the Great Lakes continues to be degraded, but federal, state, and local agencies are undertaking unprecedented efforts to restore many areas. Peter will summarize the new information being used to guide those efforts, focusing on maps of stressors, human use of the lakes, and connections between the lakes and their watersheds. Using these maps, restoration specialists are developing ways to maximize the return on society's investments in Great Lakes restoration. These important efforts are helping to improve the environment for both nature and people.
May 22 - School Security, Crisis Preparedness and Known Information about Active Shooter Situations
Complex settings, such as schools, must implement a variety of strategies and practices to maintain a culture of safety. Such an approach is the best way to prevent both day-to-day incidents, such as harassment or bullying and large-scale violent events. School Crisis and Preparedness Expert David Perrodin will discuss the history of school violence, the three pillars of school security, and effective approaches to school crisis preparedness. David will conclude by sharing surprising findings from his extensive research of active shooter situations before providing his research-supported recommendations on what can be done to lessen the chances of a violent attack on a school.
Events
- "SCIENCE ON TAP" - June 5
