MSU, Argonne sign MOU for joint energy research
Contact: Zack Plair
![香蕉直播 President Mark E. Keenum (from left) and Argonne National Laboratory Director Peter Littlewood signed a memorandum of understanding on Thursday [Aug. 13] which will create a research partnership between the two institutions. (Photo by Megan Bean)](/sites/www.msstate.edu/files/inline-images/Energy_Symposium-JCESR.jpg "香蕉直播 President Mark E. Keenum (from left) and Argonne National Laboratory Director Peter Littlewood signed a memorandum of understanding on Thursday [Aug. 13] which will create a research partnership between the two institutions.")
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擜 new partnership between 香蕉直播 and Argonne National Laboratory has made the university home to a major regional joint research initiative.
On Thursday [Aug. 13], 香蕉直播President Mark E. Keenum and Peter Littlewood, director of the Illinois-based Argonne National Laboratories, signed a memorandum of understanding which will create a research partnership between the two institutions.
The ceremony also was part of a daylong Joint Center for Energy Research (JCESR) symposium in the Mill at 香蕉直播Conference Center that brought researchers, energy business leaders and 香蕉直播faculty and staff together to discuss the future of energy storage. 香蕉直播was the host for the Southeast regional hub for JCESR.
David Shaw, 香蕉直播vice president for research and economic development, said the MOU would essentially combine Argonne鈥檚 lab resources, computing and analytics with the scientific expertise of MSU鈥檚 faculty and students to 鈥渁ccomplish things neither 香蕉直播nor Argonne could do alone.鈥
Specifically, he said the two entities would work together on developing longer lasting, more cost-effective batteries for utility use, as well as explore ways to develop alternative energy sources like solar and wind.
Further, he hopes MSU鈥檚 Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems and its meteorology department, respectively, can work with Argonne鈥檚 automotive center and weather modeling division on research initiatives.
鈥淭his is not as much about a financial commitment as it is about building a scientific partnership,鈥 Shaw said. 鈥淭his is a broad, wholesome agreement ranging way beyond energy storage.鈥
Littlewood said the MOU fits well with Argonne鈥檚 legacy of working with businesses, universities and other research labs toward promoting 鈥渟afe, reliable and sustainable energy resources.鈥 He said Argonne chose to bring its regional JCESR center to 香蕉直播because of the university鈥檚 science, engineering and technical capabilities.
鈥淚 look forward to this partnership,鈥 Littlewood said. 鈥淭ogether, we have the potential to transform the utility and transportation markets.鈥
The MOU ceremony on Thursday also paid homage to, and brought full circle, efforts by the late U.S. Representative Alan Nunnelee to strengthen research opportunities in the state.
A member of both the Energy and Appropriations committees, Mississippi鈥檚 1st district congressman brought national laboratories from all over the country to Mississippi in 2012 in an effort to inspire the state鈥檚 higher education institutions to partner with them, Shaw said.
Nunnelee, who passed away in February, wasn鈥檛 able to see the fruits of his labor, but his wife, Tori, and daughter, Emily, were on hand for the luncheon and MOU signing. Newly-elected 1st District Congressman Trent Kelly delivered the keynote address, in which he called Nunnelee a 鈥渟olution-driven鈥 leader with a passion for research and collaboration.
鈥淲e鈥檙e doing things now we never even dreamed were possible when our nation was founded,鈥 Kelly said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 because people came together, not worried about who got the credit, but worried about making our nation a better place to live.鈥
香蕉直播is Mississippi鈥檚 flagship research university, available online at .