OSU celebrates 50 years of advancing technologies at Frontiers of Power Conference
Tuesday, October 17, 2017
The 50th Annual Frontiers of Power Conference will feature five highly regarded engineers from academia to industry who will address topics that include cutting edge research and what the future holds for the field of electric power and energy at the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center Oct. 30-31.
Presented by the Engineering Energy Laboratory and School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, the conference is an educational event aimed at professionals such as engineers, engineering managers, planners and economists in the electric power industry. Students, faculty and researchers in the field are strongly encouraged to participate and the public is welcome, but registration is required. OSU students register for free.
For the last 30 years, Dr. R. Ramakumar, Regents Professor, PSO/Naeter Professor and director of the Engineering Energy Laboratory, has organized and directed the Frontiers of Power Conference, which he recommends as a great opportunity for students to connect with practicing engineers.
“Students rarely get to go to big conferences,” Ramakumar said. “Here, they can talk to well-known keynote speakers and authors at one of the longest running conferences in this area.”
Ramakumar, who personally recruited each keynote speaker, said he is most excited about seeing presentations that discuss where electrical engineering is heading and how industry professionals should prepare for the future.
“Things are changing rapidly in the energy-power industry,” Ramakumar said, “The topics dealt with at the Frontiers of Power Conference have changed over the years to reflect new technologies, such as the entry of variable (renewable) generation, the need for very high reliability, and smart grid concepts, to name just a few.”
Ramakumar wants people to realize the status of the energy-power industry through this conference, and he said this is a great opportunity for OSU.
“Many companies don’t want to spend a lot of money sending their employees to big conferences in other areas of the country,” Ramakumar said. “This is a great chance for them to visit OSU and get a feel for what is going on.”
Professionals from large power companies such as Oklahoma Gas and Electric, Public Service Company of Oklahoma and American Electric Power are expected to participate in the conference, along with students and faculty from neighboring universities and other organizations in the industry. OSU President Burns Hargis is scheduled to welcome Conference participants on the morning of Monday, Oct. 30.
Ramakumar, who just celebrated 50 years as a faculty member at OSU, was honored in 2008 as a Regents Professor, one of the most prestigious positions an OSU faculty member can receive.
To register, email nancy.crenshaw@okstate.edu or call 405-744-9912 weekday afternoons. Registration forms and information may also be found at https://osu-eel.okstate.edu/. Registrations should be received by noon on Friday, Oct. 20 in order to be guaranteed conference meals.
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Story by Shayla Terrel