MIT Technology and Policy Program
Joy Zeng, Thomas Lee, Melissa Stok, Jim Owens, Anakha Ganesh, Kyle Buznitsky, Pamela Duke, Chuwei Zhang, Carlos Díaz-Marín, Amanda Farnsworth, Ignacio Arzuaga Garcia, Mrigi Munjal, Aniket Patankar Photo: Kelley Travers
Joy Zeng, Thomas Lee, Melissa Stok, Jim Owens, Anakha Ganesh, Kyle Buznitsky, Pamela Duke, Chuwei Zhang, Carlos Díaz-Marín, Amanda Farnsworth, Ignacio Arzuaga Garcia, Mrigi Munjal, Aniket Patankar Photo: Kelley Travers

MIT energy storage research highlighted in student slam competition
MITEI | June 29, 2023

Kelley Travers | MIT Energy Initiative

A variety of recent events highlighted efforts by faculty, staff, and students to make a difference today.

Original Article: MITEI

On March 21, 2023, ten graduate students and three undergraduates gathered at the MIT Welcome Center to compete in the MIT Energy Initiative’s (MITEI) Energy Storage Student Slam. The students gave quick, dynamic presentations—each limited to three minutes—on energy storage research that they had recently completed or were currently working on at the Institute.

The slam followed the completion of MITEI’s The Future of Energy Storage report and study, which explored the role energy storage can play in combatting climate change and the adoption of clean energy systems worldwide. Building on that theme, the event highlighted additional research taking place at MIT in the energy storage space. Topics ranged from the use of flame-assisted spray pyrolysis to create better battery materials to the role of pumped hydro storage in power sector decarbonization to a thermochemical approach to producing low-cost green hydrogen.

The competition was divided into two parts: The graduate students presented first, followed by the undergraduates, with separate judging for each group. The graduate student winners were Jim Owens (first), Aniket Patankar (second), and Mrigi Munjal (third). The undergraduate student winners were Pamela Duke (first), Melissa Stok (second), and Anakha Ganesh (third).

The Energy Storage Student Slam emceed by MITEI’s Director of Education Antje Danielson. Photo: Kelley Travers
The Energy Storage Student Slam was emceed by MITEI’s Director of Education Antje Danielson. Photo: Kelley Travers
Pamela Duke, a senior majoring in finance and minoring in economics and environment and sustainability, won first place in the undergraduate student competition. Credit: Kelley Travers
Pamela Duke, a senior majoring in finance and minoring in economics and environment and sustainability, won first place in the undergraduate student competition. In her presentation, she discussed using the En-ROADS climate solutions model to engage with utilities on decarbonization strategies. Photo: Kelley Travers
Carlos Díaz-Marín, a graduate student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, presenting his work. Photo: Kelley Travers
Carlos Díaz-Marín, a graduate student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, presented his work developing ultra moisture-hungry hydrogels that have exceptional water capture capabilities and can be used for waste heat storage and reuse. Photo: Kelley Travers
Mrigi Munjal, a graduate student in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Technology and Policy Program, describes her project on unlocking industrial-scale sodium-ion batteries. Photo: Kelley Travers
The third-place award went to Mrigi Munjal, a graduate student in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Technology and Policy Program, who described her project on unlocking industrial-scale sodium-ion batteries. Photo: Kelley Travers
MITEI Director of Education Antje Danielson (left) presented the first-place award in the graduate student competition to Jim Owens, a PhD candidate in the Department of Chemical Engineering. Photo: Kelley Travers
MITEI Director of Education Antje Danielson (left) presented the first-place award in the graduate student competition to Jim Owens, a PhD candidate in the Department of Chemical Engineering who conducts research at the intersection of electric vehicles and renewable energy systems. Photo: Kelley Travers

Reprinted with permission of MITEI.


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