Author: Sherri Shields

Contagious Energy at EnergyWhiz

Sherri Shields Energy News, Feature Story, K-12 Education, Press Release , , 0 Comment

EnergyWhiz 2025, Empowering Student Innovation for a Clean Energy FutureBy Sherri Shields

COCOA, May 8, 2025–Minimal clouds and a slight breeze made it a perfect day to see just how fast model solar sprint cars could race, how hot solar ovens could get, and how many laps electric go-carts could complete.

Nearly 400 students from 31 schools across Florida—from Tallahassee to Tampa to Boca Raton—converged at FSEC®, Florida’s premier energy research center at the University of Central Florida, on April 26th to compete at EnergyWhiz.

Students have the chance each year to compete in FSEC’s Junior or Senior Solar Sprint, Solar Energy Cookoff, Energy Inspired Art, Critter Comfort Cottage, and Energy Transfer Machine. And the Electrathon of Tampa Bay provides their high school, college, and adult teams a chance to race their electric go-carts at EnergyWhiz.

Three students talking with Critter Comfort Cottage project.
A Critter Comfort Cottage project uses salps for carbon sequestration.

“EnergyWhiz provides an opportunity for youth to showcase innovative energy concepts in a fun, creative, and purposeful format,” said Brooks Rumenik, director of Florida’s Office of Energy. “It is evident that these young scientists are ready, willing, and determined to tackle any number of energy challenges they may face.”

One of the Critter Comfort Cottage middle school teams stepped out of the box and demonstrated how to sequester carbon using salps (gelatinous marine creatures) and phytoplankton. Read more

EnergyWhiz 2025 WINNERS

Sherri Shields Feature Story, K-12 Education 0 Comment

EnergyWhiz 2025, Empowering Student Innovation for a Clean Energy FutureOn Saturday, April 26, 2025, students from around Florida converged at FSEC® on the University of Central Florida’s Cocoa campus to participate in EnergyWhiz. The winners are:

JUNIOR SOLAR SPRINT

GREEN Division (4-6)

 RACE

Read more

ScholarGPS Names FSEC/UCF Researcher Muradov as Highly Ranked Scholar

Sherri Shields Awards, Feature Story, Press Release, Uncategorized 0 Comment

Nazim Muradov Ranked in Top 0.05% of All Scholars Worldwide

By Sherri Shields

Nazim Muradov, PhD, standing next to reactor in laboratory.ScholarGPS celebrates Highly Ranked Scholars™ for their exceptional performance in various fields, disciplines, and specialties. ScholarGPS named University of Central Florida and FSEC® researcher, Nazim Muradov, PhD, a 2024 Highly Ranked Scholar. This honor places him in the top 0.05% of all scholars worldwide.

Muradov’s prolific publication record, the significant impact of his work, and the outstanding quality of his scholarly contributions resulted in this high ranking.

Based on his accomplishments over his lifetime, Muradov ranks in the following categories:

#5 Fossil fuel; #21 Hydrogen fuel; #658 Energy. Muradov is internationally recognized for his research in hydrogen, and holds more than 40 patents.

“I am greatly honored to have earned the title of Highly Ranked Scholar,” says Muradov. “I consider it a testament to the high appreciation of the scientific merit and high quality of the research work conducted at FSEC over the years, particularly in the field of hydrogen energy and technology.” Read more

Fuel the Future of Energy Education on UCF Day of Giving, April 10, 2025

Sherri Shields Feature Story 0 Comment

UCF Day of Giving April 10, 2025. Fuel the Future. ON APRIL 10TH, 2025 SUPPORT FSEC's RENEWABLE ENERGY WORKFORCE OF TOMORROW

On April 10, 2025, you’ll have the opportunity to help Fuel the Future of Energy Education. Contributing to the FSEC-specific fund on the UCF Day of Giving website will help support our renewable energy workforce of tomorrow. We’ve already received one commitment of $50,000. Any contribution will help made a difference. On Thursday, April 10, 2025, visit here to make a difference in energy education. Want to make a large commitment before April, 10th? Contact Garrett Preisser.

FSEC Remembers Former President Jimmy Carter

Sherri Shields Buildings Research, Energy News, Feature Story 0 Comment

By Janet McIlvaine and Sherri Shields.

Former President Jimmy Carter hammering a nail into frame of new construction home.
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and more than 6,000 volunteers work together in Houston, Texas during a June 1998 Jimmy Carter Work Project to “blitz build” 100 ENERGYSTAR® houses. Photo: Houston Chronicle

As the nation pays tribute to the late and former President Jimmy Carter, FSEC remembers him especially for his advocacy for energy efficiency and affordable housing. From establishing the U.S. Department of Energy, and installing the first solar panels on the White House, to building houses with Habitat for Humanity, President Carter’s solar and humanitarian legacy lives on.

The hand prints of Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter are on Habitat for Humanity homes around the world. They were there, diligently working alongside 104,000 volunteers to build 4,390 homes in 14 countries during their more than 35-year partnership with Habitat for Humanity International.

While this year also marks the Florida Solar Energy Center’s 50th anniversary, we reflect on FSEC’s contributions. Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Building America program, FSEC focused on making “affordable housing” truly more affordable by incorporating energy-efficiency in the design process.

FSEC provided technical assistance, energy design, volunteer training, and on-site implementation leadership at six Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Projects from 1997-2007, resulting in 236 high-performance and ENERGY STAR®-certified homes in Michigan, Alabama, Georgia, New York, California, Kentucky, Louisiana and Texas. Read more