U.S. DOE Idaho Operations Manager Discusses Energy, Environment, Economy

Elizabeth D. Sellers, manager of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory, will present a discussion on energy, the environment and the economy and how it relates to nuclear energy. The free and open presentation is at the Utah State University campus, Thursday, Nov. 6, at 1:30 p.m., in the Eccles Conference Center, room 205-207.

“With rising energy prices, global climate change and the current economic situation, Elizabeth’s address is very timely,” said Heng Ban, USU associate professor in mechanical and aerospace engineering. “All three discussion points are issues in the presidential debate, and nuclear energy is becoming a national priority because it is the only major energy source that has little carbon dioxide emission. We need to realize the value of nuclear energy because other renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and biofuels, only contribute a small percentage to the nation’s energy sources.”  

 

Sellers became manager of the Idaho lab in 2003 and previously held the same position at of the U.S. DOE’s National Nuclear Security Administration’s Kansas City site. Prior to NNSA position, she was director of the Spent Nuclear Fuels Project at the U.S. DOE’s Richland Operations Office. Sellers joined the Department of Energy in 1983 as a program engineer for nuclear materials production in Oak Ridge, Tenn.

           

“This is a great opportunity for USU students and faculty to listen to and learn from one of the national leaders that is helping to create our country’s energy future,” said H. Scott Hinton, dean of USU’s College of Engineering.

 

USU is positioned to grow its research and teaching in the area of nuclear engineering because of its location between two of the nation’s energy labs, including the Idaho National Laboratory in Idaho and the Los Alamos National Lab in New Mexico.

 

“We already work closely with the Idaho Nation Lab, and Elizabeth’s visit allows us to show her existing research happening on our campus and also gives us a chance to discuss further collaboration opportunities for the future,” said Ban. “Our students also benefit from the partnership through increased research opportunities and in-class experience. They will have a better understanding of national energy policies and its relationship with nuclear energy.”

 

While at USU, Sellers will tour the David G. Sant Engineering Innovation Building and meet with President Stan Albrecht, Hinton, Heng and many other key faculty members in the mechanical and aerospace engineering department. Sellers will also meet with USU’s Society for Women Engineers student group.

 

Sellers holds a bachelor’s in chemical engineering from the University of New Mexico and a bachelor’s in English from the University of Alabama. She has served on the board of directors and as president of the New Mexico Network of Women in Science and Engineering. She completed a three-year Leadership in Training curriculum through the Department of Energy.

           

For more information on Sellers and her presentation, contact Heng, 435-797-2098, heng.ban@usu.edu.

 

For more information on USU’s College of Engineering, visit its Web site. For more information on the U.S. Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory, visit its Web site.

 

Contact: Heng Ban (435) 797-2098, heng.ban@usu.edu
Writer: Maren Cartwright (435) 797-1355, maren.cartwright@usu.edu