Strategic Plan

The goals of WISER are to continue to:

• Develop state-of-the-art education, research, and outreach programs in areas of energy and sustainability; focus on the application of computational research in line with University Smart Goals and Strategic Priorities; attract research and educational grants and contracts; work closely with the deans and provost to attract high-level and diverse faculty members and students; and work with Illinois Tech Office of Institutional Advancement to attract philanthropic funds to establish WISER scholarships.
• Launch several initiatives that will expand the interdisciplinary perspective of the research, education, and outreach programs in the energy and sustainability area; set a new high standard of excellence in energy and sustainability education and research at Illinois Tech; and develop research programs in partnership with global and local industry, national and research laboratories, and domestic and international universities.

Wanger Institute for Sustainable Energy Research (WISER) serves as an umbrella organization to enhance and promote research, education, and outreach activities at Illinois Tech that are related to energy and sustainability. WISER also coordinates the initiation of research collaboration internally between Illinois Tech faculty and externally with other universities, research laboratories, and industry. More than 85 faculty affiliates are currently involved with WISER across the various colleges, research institutes, and centers at Illinois Tech.

WISER goals include broadening the curricula by introducing interdisciplinary education in energy and sustainability, with a continuing focus on interdisciplinary large-scale innovative research at the graduate level and student participation in research and interprofessional and entrepreneurial team projects at the undergraduate level. We seek to attract more women and minority faculty members and students and faculty by creating a more welcoming and diverse community within WISER and working closely with University colleges and the Office of Admissions. We also plan to increase our outreach programs and work closely with the communities around us. Our plan also demands significant research and educational partnerships with universities inside and outside the United States, industry, government and research laboratories, and collaboration with local communities, the City of Chicago, and the State of Illinois.  We have identified several education and collaborative research areas of high priority for WISER and are focusing our effort to attract significant funding and to secure needed resources to assume a national leadership role in these areas. At present, these areas are: Sustainable Electrical Grid and Sustainable Energy Integration (which includes the activities of WISER's largest research center: the Robert W. Galvin Center for Electricity Innovation), Climate Change, Fundamental Research in Sustainable Energy Systems, Sustainable Development, and a computational research focus across all research areas related to energy and sustainability.

Click following links to view detailed information on the WISER research and education/outreach programs.

National security and economic vitality and growth depend upon adequate future supplies of energy and water. In the national interest, it is essential that university initiatives in technology and research join with industry and national and research laboratories to focus on the sustainability of the energy supply and related areas. Sustainable energy supply uses inexhaustible least-cost sources of heating, cooling, lighting, transportation, energy, power, etc., that do not cause dissipative harmful material flows into the environment. New initiatives need to be launched and funding provided for expanded initiatives where appropriate.

The energy and sustainability challenge is multi-faceted. It therefore calls for a comprehensive strategy with action on several fronts in identifiable fields linked to entities and individuals with demonstrated capability and potential in both achievements and ideas. WISER is particularly well-positioned to significantly contribute to national energy and sustainability research and education with highly qualified and nationally recognized faculty in a range of areas related to energy and sustainability. Furthermore, WISER is in a very strong position to mobilize its intellectual, research, and professional resources to attract to Illinois Tech top graduate and undergraduate students, and key national faculty and research leaders in energy and sustainability.

Background

Illinois Tech’s foray into the energy arena can be traced to the 1940s, when Illinois Tech first developed a formal affiliation with the Institute of Gas Technology (IGT), establishing the gas engineering graduate program and launching energy-related research between the two entities.

This arrangement continued until 1985, when IGT phased out its gas engineering program and, at the same time, the Gas Research Institute, under the direction of Henry Linden, provided funding to the Illinois Tech Department of Chemical Engineering to attract new faculty to energy related areas. Hamid Arastoopour was the faculty member hired by Illinois Tech to establish the Energy Technology education and research program. As part of this program, a specialization (minor) in energy technology at the undergraduate level and an energy research program focus were launched.

An industrial membership program also was established to attract funding to support student scholarships at the undergraduate and Ph.D. levels. In addition, funds were raised to establish the Max McGraw Endowed Professorship in Energy and Power Engineering and Management, occupied by Dr. Linden.

During the 1990s, the scope of the Energy Technology Program was broadened and renamed the Energy, Environment and Economics (E³) program. During this time, educational specializations in E3 at both the graduate and undergraduate levels, and a Master of Environmental Management degree (a collaborative program between Illinois Tech Stuart School of Business and the Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering) were launched.

In addition, funds were raised for an endowed chair professorship—namely, the Linden Chair, occupied by Dr. Arastoopour.

Several clusters of excellence in research—including the Energy + Power Center, the Electric Power and Power Electronics Center, the Center for Electrochemical Science and Engineering, and the environmental engineering research focus—were also established.

In response to urgent national need, in 2004 Illinois Tech took a leadership role in establishing the Energy and Sustainability Institute (ESI), building on the university’s reputation at that time for more than six decades as a leader in energy research and education. ESI activities were significantly expanded beyond engineering and science to include strong participation with Illinois Tech College of Architecture and Illinois Tech Stuart School of Business as well as involvement by faculty from law, design, and psychology.

In 2007, Illinois Tech benefactor and trustee Ralph Wanger provided funding to further enhance the scope of energy and sustainability research activities at Illinois Tech, formerly under the auspices of ESI, under the renamed Wanger Institute for Sustainable Energy Research (WISER). This funding provides needed infrastructure support as well as seed research grants for faculty and initial graduate scholarships to attract the brightest and most creative Ph.D. students to WISER—formally established in the 2008/2009 academic year.

This funding has also allowed Illinois Tech to assume a leadership position as our nation faces significant future challenges to the security of our energy and water supplies and the sustainability of our natural resources. WISER is positioned to make key contributions to the advancement of national and global energy and sustainability education, research, development, and economic and policy issues.

Achievements

During the first two Five-Year Strategic Plans (2009 and 2014), WISER met its goals in targeted categories such as: implementing the Cross-disciplinary Seed Funding Grants (CSFG) program, launching a significant number of Interprofessional Projects (IPROs) in energy and sustainability related areas, working closely with the Illinois Tech Office of Admissions in attracting top graduate and undergraduate students to the University, graduating close to the targeted number of Ph.D. students, and WISER faculty attracted about $80 million in research funding. During this same time period, WISER also recruited more than 85 faculty members from different colleges to get involved in WISER activities. In addition, three new chaired professors in areas related to energy and sustainability were filled.

Currently, there are five chaired professorships at Illinois Tech in the energy and sustainability related areas. They include the: Carl and Paul Bodine Endowed Chair in Electrical and Computer Engineering; Grainger Chair in Electrical and Power Engineering; Henry R. Linden Endowed Chair in Engineering; Rowe Family Endowed Chair in Sustainable Energy; and Max McGraw Endowed Chair in Energy and Power Engineering and Management. 

To date, WISER has funded 24 Cross-disciplinary Seed Funding Grant (CSFG) projects totaling approximately $650,000; more than 75 proposals have been prepared and submitted to funding agencies based on the results of these completed WISER CSFG projects. Successful funding to date: 9 projects with total funding exceeding $3 million; the ratio of income to investment: 5/1. The WISER CSFG program ensures that WISER will continuously have large cross-disciplinary research proposals in the pipeline.

In 2015, WISER established a Faculty Advisory Team to continuously develop and evaluate WISER academic and research initiatives. This team includes the: WISER director, WISER associate and assistant directors, and all holders of chaired professorships in the area of energy and sustainability at Illinois Tech (who are also members of the WISER Faculty Affiliates group). 

WISER has launched a significant number of Interprofessional Projects (IPROs) in energy and sustainability related areas (more than 20% of total university IPROs). WISER has also launched a significant number of outreach and collaborative programs with other universities, communities, industry, and research laboratories.

WISER administration also worked with Illinois Tech architects to complete the renovation of the 16th floor of the Michael Paul Galvin Tower and successfully moved all WISER activities to this location as of January 2012. This state-of-the-art facility was designed specifically to house the WISER operation and the Robert W. Galvin Center for Electricity Innovation and its Smart Grid Workforce Education and Training Program.

WISER also worked closely with the Office of Campus Energy and Sustainability and different student organizations involved in areas related to sustainable energy and sustainability to make Illinois Tech one of the most sustainable urban campuses in the nation. Projects included the development of a campus microgrid and the establishment of a renewable energy system that incorporates a wind turbine, a number of rooftop solar panels and battery storage systems, and electric car charging stations. In addition, projects in recycling, composting, urban farming, and water management were also established in collaboration with the Office of Campus Energy and Sustainability and student organizations.

In summary, WISER successfully continued to position itself as one of the distinguished research institutes at the national level in the area of energy and sustainability.

The WISER approach to sustainability implements a least-cost strategy to establish innovative and advanced initiatives that:

• Enhance sustainable electrical grid and sustainable energy integration through the Galvin Center for Electricity Innovation and the Center for Smart Grid Research
• Focus on the application of computational research across all areas related to energy and sustainability
• Enhance energy efficiency, conservation and connectivity programs
• Launch water and material accountability and recycling initiatives
• Further develop the carbon dioxide capture and sequestration programs
• Expand programs in energy storage and concentrated solar energy
• Apply renewable energy sources such as solar, geothermal, and wind in net zero energy systems and the design of buildings and residences
• Pursue programs in sustainable built environment, urban agriculture, natural gas, algae, and biomass as transitional fuels to a future sustainable world

Our long-term approach includes reducing the dependence of the global energy system on carbon by using renewable sources such as solar photovoltaic, concentrated solar, geothermal, and wind energy along with developing a comprehensive program in energy storage.

WISER continues to make significant progress in establishing a national and international reputation for the University in the energy and sustainability area that is of global interest—representing one of the major issues that the world is facing today and will continue to face in the future. 

Education

The WISER Educational Strategic Plan will include full participation in University Smart Goal 1 (Grow and Develop Our Undergraduate and Graduate Students Bodies with an emphasis on student success before and after graduation), and Smart Goal 4 (Become a Leading University by 2025 in the Development and Delivery of Our Research and Educational Programs).

WISER’s goal is to play a key role in educating future leaders in energy and sustainability by working closely with all colleges at Illinois Tech on the development of state-of-the-art curricula, research, and growth of the student body. WISER’s goal also is that all interested undergraduate and graduate students will have opportunities to learn about sustainability and energy-related areas.

Students incorporating the sustainability program as a part of their studies represent a new breed of professionals who possess not only a strong knowledge of fundamentals, but also the innovative thinking and knowledge required for a broad understanding of societal, economic, legal, and environmental issues that determine intellectual choices. Graduation of students with such broad knowledge and innovative thinking capability will further elevate Illinois Tech's visibility.

The following is the specific WISER educational action plan:

Recruitment

WISER’s Strategic Plan will include full participation in University Smart Goal 1 (Grow and Develop Our Undergraduate and Graduate Students Bodies with an emphasis on student success before and after graduation). As part of this effort, WISER will:

• Continue to provide lectures, webinars and visits to WISER facilities for admitted domestic undergraduate and graduate students, high school counselors, and Chicago-area high school students to demonstrate the great opportunities that Illinois Tech will provide to its students in collaboration with the Offices of Graduate and Undergraduate Admission.
• Conduct energy and sustainability webinars for graduate admitted and potential students in collaboration with the Office Graduate Admission to attract international master’s degree students interested in areas related to energy and sustainability at Illinois Tech.
• Find creative ways to demonstrate to potential students and their parents our innovative and creative work in this nationally and internationally critical cross-disciplinary area of energy and sustainability.
   
• Focus on improving diversity by providing a more welcoming environment for students, staff, and faculty from diverse backgrounds, enhancing effort in attracting diverse group of students to get involved in WISER large proposals and projects, and helping in faculty start-up research support.

Student Success

WISER’s objective is that all undergraduate and graduate students interested in the energy and sustainability area will have opportunities to learn about these areas by taking courses, participating in research projects and lectures/seminars, and taking one of the IPROs in the energy and sustainability area. In order to fulfill this objective, WISER will:

• Assist in developing cross-disciplinary Master of Sustainable Energy and Sustainability degrees as part of the co-terminal program with the help of faculty from participating colleges. This includes a fast-track one-year master’s degree program with up to 6 credits in related projects (requires a University investment of the equivalent of the cost of 3 credit hours).

• Continue to provide assistance in maintaining the offering of 20% of IPRO annual course offerings and undergraduate- and master’s-level graduate projects in energy and sustainability related areas. This is expected to contribute to the enhancement of the retention rate for 2nd and 3rd year undergraduate students, and master’s students.

• Provide support and assistance to faculty in launching a new undergraduate minor in sustainability and sponsor educational events as part of this new minor.

• Further develop student activities/projects and involvement in campus sustainability initiatives and continue to use the Illinois Tech campus as a “living energy and sustainability laboratory” for students in partnership with the Illinois Tech Office of Campus Energy and Sustainability as part of the Facilities Department, academic colleges and departments, and student organizations.

• Continue to develop interdisciplinary student teams for national technological university challenges (i.e., DOE Solar District Cup Collegiate Design Competition and Cleantech University Prize (UP), Clean Energy Trust University Challenge).

• Advise, support, and work with Engineers for a Sustainable World (ESW) and Engineers Without Borders (EWB) student organizations to provide opportunities to all undergraduate and graduate students interested in the energy and sustainability area to participate in these extra-curricular activities.

• Expand the annual WISER Distinguished Lectureship Series and offer more collaborative seminars with other academic units for enhancing students’ knowledge in energy and sustainability.

• Collaborate with the Kaplan Institute to promote the entrepreneurial spirit among students and faculty and assist them to develop and commercialize their innovative sustainable energy technologies. WISER’s collaborative initiatives with faculty and students will include: assisting in the preparation of invention disclosure and providing funding for faculty through our Cross-disciplinary Seed Funding Grants (CSFG) program to further develop their innovative sustainable energy technologies.

Research

WISER’s overall Research Strategic Plan is to make WISER one of the premier national energy and sustainability technology-focused research institutes. WISER’s plan will include full participation in University Smart Goal 2 (Fully Realize Our Identity as the premier Technology-Focused University in Chicago and one of the top ten nationally).

WISER is one of the leading academic institutions in the nation in addressing the research issues of energy and sustainability including: Sustainable Electrical Grid and Sustainable Energy Integration, Climate Change, Fundamental Research in Sustainable Energy Systems, Sustainable Development, and the application of computational research across all areas related to energy and sustainability. WISER possesses a unique ability to leverage national recognition in energy, power, and environmentally related research; the original formulation of the Energy/Environment/Economics paradigm; and current and emerging strengths across several Illinois Tech academic disciplines. A primary goal of WISER and its largest center, the Robert W. Galvin Center for Electricity Innovation, involves the development of cross-disciplinary research, via our core research competency areas, to attract more large-scale research projects and funds to Illinois Tech and produce top-quality publications and, in turn, enhance Illinois Tech’s reputation in energy and sustainability-related areas. Our plan includes integrating research from different disciplines at Illinois Tech, and from our collaborators at other universities, government laboratories, and research organizations, and in business and industry. Our plan also includes identification of new research priority areas for WISER in which we should stake out a stronger leadership position and earmark additional resources.

Our objective will also include continuation of our Cross-disciplinary Seed Funding Grants (CSFG) program. This will ensure that WISER will continuously have large inter-disciplinary proposals in the pipeline.

We expect our research activities to contribute significantly to growing the student body who are interested in energy and sustainability-related research areas, promoting innovative thinking and excellence in sustainable energy areas, elevating Illinois Tech’s visibility in energy and sustainability-related fields, and developing resources by increasing research value and philanthropic contributions in support of University Smart Goal 3 (Strengthen Our Finances to Enable Strategic Investment Each Year).

The following is the specific WISER research action plan:

• Allocate additional resources and build new faculty research teams and clusters to enhance our activities in the application of computational research in line with University smart goals and strategic priorities. Computational areas of research include: computational fluid dynamics, artificial intelligence and data processing, computational molecular dynamics, chemistry, and biology in application with carbon capture processes, wind turbines, concentrated solar, gas turbines, geothermal energy, biofuels, simulation of next-generation smart grids, energy storage, sustainable buildings, energy efficiency, production of natural gas from unconventional resources, and gasification and desalination processes.
   
• Enhance and upgrade the WISER Linden Computational Facility from 125 High Performance Computing (HPC) to 250 HPC.
   
• Further advance research and development in our overall research competency areas, assembling cross-disciplinary research teams, working on preparing and submitting proposals for establishing new research centers and large cross-disciplinary grants and contracts.
   
• Submit proposals for 2-5 ERCs or similar centers or major projects (including: smart energy vertical communities [SEVEC]; energy storage systems [ESS]; cybersecure, autonomous, renewable electric power systems [CARE]; a pathway toward a sustainable energy society [PSES]; net zero carbon society [NZCS]; electric vehicle systems [EVS]; and natural gas as a transitional fuel).
   
• Develop research centers in several areas including: energy storage, sustainable safe food supply chain, zero carbon society, and electric vehicles.
   
• Continue to sponsor the Cross-disciplinary Seed Funding Grants (CSFG) program with a focus on computational research and energy and sustainability-related areas of national interest. This will enable WISER to continuously have cross-disciplinary proposals in the pipeline. Our goal is to increase our ratio of income to investment from 5:1 to about 8:1.
   
• Develop research teams to address broad issues facing our society including: smart cities with a Chicago focus (e.g., urban sustainable design, microgrid, security, urban agriculture, waste management, smart and sustainable energy in tall buildings, transportation including electric vehicles, and reduction in CO₂ emissions) and a pathway toward a sustainable future economy (solid state and flow batteries and energy storage, renewable energy including concentrated solar, geothermal and wind, bioenergy, and natural gas substitution for coal and oil as a transitional fuel).
   
• Continue advancement of research in microgrids and electricity markets, including circuit fault protection; synchronized theoretical framework for microgrids; CO₂ capture processes; conversion of CO₂ to energy-rich fuels; materials synthesis and design for Li-ion, Li-air, and solid-state batteries; bioenergy; waste management, including polymer recycling and conversion of waste to energy; sustainable built environment; and transportation.
   
• Continue development of the Illinois Tech campus microgrid and installation of flywheels as a microgrid component through the Galvin Center in collaboration with the Illinois Tech Facilities Department.
• Initiate and take a leadership role in establishing enhanced research collaborations with local universities and research laboratories including: University of Illinois, University of Chicago, Northwestern University, Argonne National Laboratory, Gas Research Institute, and Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago.
   
• Develop relationships with project managers in different government funding agencies such as DOE, ARPA-E, DOD, and NSF by arranging and supporting WISER faculty visits to Washington and attend agency RFP preparation workshops, particularly in WISER focus areas.
   
• Further enhance support service for WISER Faculty Affiliates to prepare cross-disciplinary proposals.
   
• Enhance WISER partnerships with corporations, industry, national and international private research laboratories, and universities. This allows WISER to participate in more large multi-disciplinary and center proposals.
   
• Identify new areas of collaboration with targeted industries where industrial interests are fully aligned with faculty research areas, and sign several MOUs with industry partners.
   
• Plan to develop international collaborative educational and research programs with universities and research institutes in different parts of the world.
   
• Work more closely with the External Affairs and Research Offices at Illinois Tech to include a provision for new initiatives that may arise occasionally that take advantage of the unique attributes of WISER and the resources of the Chicago area and seek opportunities for funding from city, state, and federal government agencies, particularly DOE, ARPA-E, and DOD, and develop a relationship with new Administration staff in Washington during year 2021.

WISER’s overall Corporate Engagement and Fundraising Strategic Plan is expected to contribute to University Smart Goal 3.

The following is the specific WISER corporate engagement and fundraising action plan:

• Engage at least 20 corporate partners and attract at least 5 additional WISER Advisory Board members from the corporate world in energy and sustainability related areas in Chicago and elsewhere. This is expected to result in an increase in corporate sponsorship of WISER research, research partnerships, and internships for students.
• Illinois Tech Institutes address major issues facing our society today such as: health, energy, food, and water. This provides opportunities for collaboration between all Institutes and the Office of Institutional Advancement to establish a fundraising plan to attract major philanthropic funds to Illinois Tech. WISER has begun and will continue to take a leadership role in this initiative.
• Work closely with WISER Advisory Board and the Illinois Tech Office of Institutional Advancement to develop a strategy and raise scholarship support to defray the cost of education of students of diverse backgrounds and/or modest means interested in energy and sustainability areas, endowment for research seed funding grants (CSFG) and the Distinguished Lectureship Series, and report to donors on the positive impact of their contributions to WISER’s
• Identify WISER campaign priorities and work with the Illinois Tech Office of Institutional Advancement to strengthen WISER and University finances.

WISER’s overall Outreach and Marketing Strategic Plan is to continue our outreach and marketing activity to contribute to University Smart Goal 2 related to elevating Illinois Tech’s visibility.

The following is the specific WISER outreach and marketing action plan:

• Begin to explore the option for WISER to host Illinois Tech Sustainable Energy Day: an open forum for discussion of critical issues in energy and sustainability by key stakeholders.
• Work closely with the Illinois Tech Office of Marketing and Communications to ensure that WISER’s objectives and achievements are broadly communicated to Illinois Tech’s numerous external audiences.
• Continue to work with all Illinois Tech internal audiences and departments to ensure University awareness of WISER and its activities, and leverage WISER success to raise the visibility of the University within the Chicago community and nationally.
• Enhance WISER participation in activities at the University Energy Institute Collaborative (UEIC) and initiate development of workshops and conferences through Engineering Conferences International (ECI) in areas related to energy and sustainability.
• Continue to coordinate all public interest and private sector inquiries and requests for information, speaker participation, facility tours, and details regarding education, research, and outreach programs.
• Expand WISER outreach and marketing initiatives including continued participation in the UIC Summer Institute (and Advisory Board) and develop additional programs with other national and international universities conducting sustainability-related programs.
• Continue to work with the Illinois Tech Office of Community Affairs and Outreach Programs to expand collaborative activities at the local, city, state, regional, national/federal, and international levels.
• Continue to maintain and expand a user-friendly and informative WISER website.

WISER is an umbrella cross-disciplinary organization established to enhance and promote research, education, and outreach activities at Illinois Institute of Technology that are related to energy and sustainability, and to bring international recognition to Illinois Tech in this area. WISER has an Advisory Board and a director (who reports administratively to the Illinois Tech Vice Provost for Research). WISER interacts directly with all colleges at Illinois Tech, or through its affiliated centers, to develop state-of-the-art research and educational programs. WISER also has one associate and one assistant director. In addition, WISER collaborates closely with all Illinois Tech colleges and Institutes and the Office of Campus Energy and Sustainability. WISER and its Robert W. Galvin Center for Electricity Innovation are located in a state-of-the-art facility on the 16^th floor of Michael Paul Galvin Tower. This facility has significantly enhanced the visibility and reputation of WISER and its Galvin Center initiatives and contributes to University Smart Goal 1 to improve student life experience at Illinois Tech.

The following is the specific WISER administrative action plan:

• Continue to develop a strong advisory board consisting of leaders of industry, national and research labs, local government,  and universities in energy and sustainability areas by adding more advisory board members to enhance our collaborative activities and help WISER to attract more financial resources.
• Work closely with the deans and provost to attract top faculty to Illinois Tech in potential energy and sustainability areas of national interest and growth.
• Continue to enhance collaboration in implementing the Campus Sustainability Plan and help to make Illinois Tech one of the most sustainable urban campuses in the nation.
• Increase administrative support for PI proposal preparation to potentially improve the success rate of submitted proposals. This will include using a grant writer who could directly collaborate with the PI and co-PI in writing a proposal. WISER also plans to increase WISER proactive engagement with prospective funding agencies.

The above-outlined action plan is expected to contribute to University Smart Goal 4.

Chairman of the Board
Ralph Wanger

Director
Hamid Arastoopour

Associate Director (and Director of Galvin Center for electricity innovation)
Mohammad Shahidehpour

Assistant Director and program outreach manager
Margaret Murphy

Dr. Rakesh Agrawal, Winthrop E. Stone Distinguished Professor, Purdue University

Dr. Rathna Pradad Davuluri, Technology & Scouting Senior Advisor, ExxonMobil Research and Engineering

Ms. Amy Francetic, Founder and Managing General Partner, Buoyant Ventures

Mr. Christopher D. Gould, Senior Vice President Corporate Strategy and Chief Innovation and Sustainability Officer, Exelon Corporation

Mr. William E. Liss, Vice President, Energy Delivery and Utilization, Gas Technology Institute

Mr. Charles T. Maxwell, Chairman, American DG Energy Inc.

Mr. Paul D. McCoy, P.E., President, McCoy Energy LLC

Dr. Catherine A. O’Connor, Director of Engineering, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

Dr. Robert Rosner, Wrather Distinguished Service Professor in Astronomy & Astrophysics and Physics, The University of Chicago

Mr. John W. Rowe, Chairman Emeritus, Exelon Corporation

Mr. Michael M. Rumman, Principal, Emso Equities, LLC

Dr. Alfred P. Sattelberger, Argonne Associate, Argonne National Laboratory

Dr. Alan Schriesheim, Director Emeritus, Argonne National Laboratory

Mr. Jason B. Selch, Co-Founder, Enchant Energy Corporation

Dr. Donnan Steele, Managing Partner, Phoenician Resources

Mr. Tim Stojka, Founder and CEO, Agentis Energy

Dr. Gavin P. Towler, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Honeywell Performance Materials and Technologies

Mr. Ralph Wanger (Chair), Chairman, RW Investments

Mr. Yi John Zhang, Division Chief, City of Chicago