Event

New York Tech Energy Conference: Energy and History

June 5, 2024
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Online

Related Topics

Join the College of Engineering and Computing Sciences Department of Energy Management for New York Tech's 18th Annual Energy Conference: Energy and History. Explore the impacts of energy technology on history and prepare for future innovations.

If you have questions, please contact Robert Amundsen, Ph.D., at ramundse@nyit.edu or call 516.686.1177.

The event is free for students, faculty, and staff. There is a $25 registration fee for alumni and community members. All proceeds directly benefit students in the energy management program and in the College of Engineering and Computing Sciences.

Become a Sponsor

Are you interested in sponsoring this year’s event and providing your support to current and future New York Tech students? Learn more about sponsorhip options:

Agenda

1 p.m.	Welcome Babak D. Beheshti, Ph.D., Dean, College of Engineering and Computing Sciences, New York Institute of Technology
1:10 p.m.	The First High Technology Revolution John Laurence Busch, author and independent historian
1:30 p.m.	Edison and Tesla Paul Israel, Ph.D., Director and General Editor, Thomas A. Edison Papers, Rutgers University
1:50 p.m.	The Evolution of Vehicles Andrew N. Vourlos, (M.S., '05), Senior Surveillance Engineer, UL Solutions
2:10 p.m.	A Brief History of Li-Ion Battery Arman Bonakdarpour, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Energy Management, New York Tech
2:30 p.m.	Energy Literacy: A Look at the Past to Prepare for the Future Patricia Keen, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Energy Management, New York Tech
2:50 p.m.	Closing Remarks Robert N. Amundsen, Ph.D., CEM, DGCP, LEED AP BD+C, Director, Graduate Program in Energy Management, New York Tech

Speakers

Robert N. Amundsen, Ph.D.

Director, M.S. in Energy Management program at New York Tech

Robert Amundsen is the Director of the M.S. in Energy Management program at the New York Tech College of Engineering and Computing Sciences. Each year, he helps to plan the annual Energy Conference, an event that brings top experts in the energy and environmental fields to New York Tech. He is an enthusiastic promoter of energy efficiency, and he works tirelessly to protect the environment and save energy wherever possible. Amundsen is an advocate of using innovative technologies in virtual and material classrooms. He encourages students to take advantage of distance learning options in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from travel.

Babak D. Beheshti, Ph.D.

Dean, New York Tech College of Engineering and Computing Sciences

Babak D. Beheshti, Ph.D., is a professor and dean of the College of Engineering and Computing Sciences at New York Institute of Technology.

Beheshti’s experience in higher education spans more than 35 years, during which he has served as a full-time faculty member, president of New York Tech’s Academic Senate, associate dean, and dean. As dean, Beheshti has led the College of Engineering and Computing Sciences to the introduction of its first two Ph.D. programs, in computer science and engineering, two new bachelor's degree programs, and one new master's degree program. In addition, he has led the college through its fastest climb in national rankings: in 2021 a climb of 13 places (since 2020) in the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings in Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs (National – no doctorate), and #49 in Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs (National – no doctorate) in the 2022-2023 rankings.

Arman Bonakdarpour, PhD

Assistant Professor of Energy Management
New York Institute of Technology

Arman Bonakdarpour is an assistant professor of energy management at the New York Institute of Technology in Vancouver, where he teaches energy management courses focusing on renewable energy technologies, solar energy, batteries, and energy modeling. His current research interests include the techno-economics of renewables, advanced batteries, and electrochemical technologies.

John Laurence Busch

Independent Historian

John Laurence Busch is an independent historian who focuses upon the interaction between humanity and technology, specializing in first- and early second-generation steam-powered vessels. His book on the first steamship in history, titled STEAM COFFIN: Captain Moses Rogers and The Steamship Savannah Break the Barrier, received positive reviews from over two dozen magazines and academic journals on three continents. Busch has spoken hundreds of times before a wide variety of professional and public audiences, as well as at academic conferences, in North America and Europe.

Paul Israel

Director and General Editor
Thomas A. Edison Papers, Rutgers University

Paul Israel is director and general editor of the Thomas A. Edison Papers at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. He joined the project in 1980 and became director in 2002. To date the project has produced nine volumes of The Papers of Thomas A. Edison (Volume 10 will be available next year), available to view online or download. Its online digital image edition includes more than 154,000 documents with a searchable index and several finding aids. In 2005 the Society for the History of Technology awarded the Edison papers a one-time retrospective award as a model reference work published since the founding of the Society in 1958.

Patricia Keen

Associate Professor of Energy Management
New York Institute of Technology

Patricia Keen completed three degrees at the University of British Columbia (B.S. in Chemistry (1986) and master's (2002) and Ph.D. (2009) in Resource Management and Environmental Science. She has extensive experience in applied environmental research and technology development gained from employment in the private, public, and academic sectors.

Andrew N. Vourlos

Senior Surveillance Engineer
UL Solutions

Andy Vourlos is a Senior Surveillance Engineer at UL Solutions, a global leader in applied safety science. UL Solutions transforms safety, security, and sustainability challenges into opportunities for customers in more than 100 countries.