DRI Joins Consortium Working on Hydrogen Fuel Cell Applications

The Desert Research Institute is joining a new high-technology consortium to develop the first-ever use of hydrogen power to provide electrical power and propulsion for marine vehicles. The Maritime Hydrogen Technology Development Group will promote the use of nonpolluting hydrogen fuel cells to replace internal combustion engines on water craft of varying sizes.

Other organizations in the group include DCH Technology, Allied Signal Aerospace, Los Alamos National Laboratory, the National Hydrogen Association, the Renewable Energy Group, and Sandia National Laboratories. DRI's role will involve initial testing of fuel cell systems on very small craft prior to applying the systems to large marine vehicles.

DRI Research Engineer Glenn Rambach said this approach is based on DRI's strategy of working to improve fuel cell technology while making the fuel cells available commercially for certain niche markets as early as possible. DRI is also pursuing this strategy on fuel cell applications for vehicles and remote electrical generation.

David Haberman, founder of the consortium and vice president of Technology and Planning for DCH Technology, said the group's first project is the development and operation of a hydrogen-powered ferry to be operated under the auspices of Pacific Marine in Hawaii. Following successful demonstration of the concept, Haberman said other types of marine vessels will be retrofitted to run with hydrogen fuel cells. The fuel cells convert hydrogen into electricity with water vapor as the only by-product.

Environment 101 Packets Available

Teaching materials designed by DRI for use in middle school and high school classrooms are now available to Nevada teachers. Two packets have been developed: one on air quality and another on climate change. Both include a videotaped lecture by a DRI researcher along with hands-on and written aids related to the topic. The videotaped lectures were first presented in the Environment 101 class at the Community College of Southern Nevada.

The air quality tape features DRI researcher Dr. John Watson, and DRI President Emeritus Jim Taranik delivers the climate change lesson. The packets were produced with funding from the State of Nevada distance education program.

If you are interested in using a packet in your classroom, please contact DRI's K-12/Distance Education Coordinator, Dr. Susan Moore, at (702)895-0409 or susanm@dri.edu.

Gertler Honored at World Clean Air Congress

Desert Research Institute scientist Dr. Alan W. Gertler received a "Hopes for the Future" award at the 11th World Clean Air and Environment Congress in Durban, South Africa in September. Gertler, a research professor in the Institute's Energy and Environmental Engineering Center, is an expert in analyzing on-road automobile emissions. His work was honored as an important contribution that will aid efforts to reduce air pollution in the future.

The award and the congress, which is held every three years, are sponsored by the International Union of Air Pollution Prevention and Environmental Protection Associations. Gertler also presented two invited papers on his automobile pollution research at the congress and chaired a session of scientific discussions on the topic. Gertler has been a member of the DRI research faculty since 1979 and also directs the Atmospheric Sciences Graduate Program at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Arid Lands Research Funding Committee Meets at DRI

A meeting of the funding advisory committee of the International Arid Lands Consortium (IALC) was conducted at DRI on July 28-29, 1998. The consortium's Research and Demonstration Advisory Committee (RADAC) met at DRI for the first time to develop guidelines for research and demonstration proposals from member organizations. There are more than 50 research and demonstration projects funded by the IALC that address fundamental questions regarding land and water management in desert regions.

Authorized by the U.S. Congress in 1990, the IALC is a partnership of organizations dedicated to researching and developing new methods of combating desertification throughout the world. The Desert Research Institute joined the consortium in 1997.

In addition to DRI, member organizations include: the University of Arizona, the University of Illinois, New Mexico State University, South Dakota State University, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, and the Jewish National Fund.

The current chair of RADAC is Dr. James Fisher of New Mexico State University. Water Resources Center researcher Dr. John Tracy is DRI's representative to the committee.

California Group Gives "Clean Air Award" to Lloyd

Dr. Alan Lloyd, executive director of DRI's Energy and Environmental Engineering Center, has received the 1998 "Clean Air Award" from the Coalition for Clean Air. The coalition is a nonprofit environmental advocacy group dedicated exclusively to restoring clean, healthy air to Southern California.

Prior to joining DRI in 1996, Lloyd was chief scientist at the South Coast Air Quality Management District, the primary agency responsible for working to reduce air pollution in the Los Angeles Basin. The coalition cited Lloyd's efforts to develop and implement strategies and technology involving the use of alternative and renewable energy sources to reduce auto pollution. Lloyd was one of four persons receiving the award, which is highly regarded among air quality researchers and managers addressing Southern California's pollution problems.


Teachers involved in the 1998 program, by county, included: Clark County: Ada Garner, Lincoln Elementary School; Shelley Kresyman, R.E. Tobler Elementary School; Melanie Mathews, Virgin Valley High School; Susan Mecham, Rancho High School; Carolyn Northrup, James Gibson Elementary School; Harley Queen, John Dailey Elementary School; Grant Roelf, Hyde Park Academy of Science And Mathematics; Georgia Smith, Robert Lunt Elementary School; Camille Stack, Mojave High School; Sally A. White, Mahlon Brown Junior High School; Carson City: Casey Gilles, Seeliger Elementary School; Julie Lynn Koop, Carson High School; Lyon County: Gail Bushey, Dayton Elementary School; Elko County: Linda Lesperance, Grammar Two Elementary School; Sharon Mortenson, Southside Elementary School; Kim E. Willis, Mountain View Elementary School; Humboldt County: Jim Blattman, Lowry High School; Teresa Stein, French Ford Middle School; Nye County: Deborah Peltz, Beatty Middle/High School; Lander County: Valerie Andersen, Austin Elementary School; Lincoln County: Deborah K. Tyler, Pahranagat Valley Elementary School; Washoe County: Eddie Jo Goodwin, Lemmon Valley Elementary School; Teresa H. Kennedy, Our Lady of the Snows School; Bobbi Metzger, Anderson Elementary School; Dale O'Brien, Libby Booth Elementary School; Petrina McCarty Puhl, Robert McQueen High School; Aileen Peregoff, Stead Elementary School; Mark E. Rogers, Pyramid Lake High School.

What Did You Do This Summer, Teacher?

A select group of 28 Nevada K-12 teachers spent their summer vacations developing special portable science instruction kits to promote "hands-on" science education in Nevada's classrooms. Dr. Susan Moore, DRI's Distance Education and K-12 Coordinator, said the teachers designed the special classroom teaching aids based on the instructional objectives outlined in Nevada's "Draft" State Science Standards. The completed kits are packaged in airline roll-on bags and circulated on a first-come, first-serve basis to requesting teachers. Topics range from natural resources and chemical reactions to earth history and the solar system. The 1998 program was sponsored by grants from the Dwight D. Eisenhower and UCCSN Distance Education Program. In addition, individual teachers were sponsored by the Nevada Space Grant Consortium, Fuel Cells 2000, the Nevada Natural Resource Education Council, and the UNR Medical School/Nevada Area Health Education Centers. The participants in this summer's program were selected by a committee of educational advisors and teachers. The portable science instruction kits designed and assembled this year are the continuation of a program begun last year to develop "hands-on" K-12 teaching aids. In a similar workshop in 1997, 15 DRI science boxes were assembled on different themes targeted to specific age groups. The science boxes are available by contacting Moore at (702)895-0409 or susanm@dri.edu.