Dr. Michael Kintner-Meyer: "Why Do I Want to Become an Engineer? Opportunities in Science and Technology"

About This Event

We have seen unprecedented changes in technology in recent years, and the rate of technological and societal change appears to be increasing. These changes can be exhilarating for some and scary for others. They have created economic opportunities, new areas of discovery, new fields of work, and, at the same time, they have made professions once deemed enduring obsolete. “The only constant is change,” said Greek philosopher Heraclitus, suggesting one must embrace change or wither by the wayside.

Dr. Kintner-Meyer will discuss some of the technological changes we have experienced in recent decades and their effects (positive and negative) that we have seen nationally and globally. He will point out that, although technological changes have created significant wealth and improved health and the human condition, they have also left a legacy on the environment that will present us and coming generations with one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century. The talk will provide a historic overview of how technology has affected our lives from the perspective of an energy engineer, and will highlight the challenges we face, but also the opportunities that technology may create, for aspiring students to contribute toward addressing these challenges.

Dr. Kintner-Meyer has more than 28 years of experience in the international energy and environment field, most of that in R&D, as well as four years of industry practice. He is a “systems thinker” with a broad range of technical competencies, including technology development of devices, broad systems analysis that addresses national and international energy infrastructure operations and expansions, water resources, and economic analysis. He has been with PNNL for 19 years as a Staff Scientist. He holds four patents related to grid-friendly technologies and smart electric vehicle (EV) charging strategies. He received an R&D 100 Award with other PNNL staff for the Grid FriendlyTM Appliance Controller in 2008.