“We need more engineers” according to President Barack Obama
President Barak Obama, visiting the University of Miami February 23,2012 to deliver a policy statement on energy, preceded his speech with a tour of the University of Miami Industrial Assessment Center in the College of Engineering.
Dr. Shihab Asfour, Director of the Center since its initiation in 2000, and his students demonstrated for the President various assessment procedures geared to reducing energy consumption and increasing efficiency at small to medium-sized companies in South Florida and Puerto Rico.
According to President Obama the work done in the Center “couldn’t be more important. Figuring out how our buildings can waste less energy is one of the fastest, easiest ways to reduce our dependence on oil and save a lot of money in the process.”
He praised the work done in the UM Industrial Assessment Center and mentioned that its research is “helping manufacturers save millions of dollars in energy bills by making their facilities more efficient.” A video has been produced highlighting both the visit and the research being conducted within the College in Sustainable Systems. It can be viewed at the College’s website or on Facebook.
The UM Industrial Assessment Center(MIIAC) has conducted over 220 energy assessments to small and medium sized businesses over the past 10 years and , according to Dr. Asfour, the savings to the company usually exceeds 25% of their energy expenses. The MIAC was established through a Department of Energy research grant of $2, 200, 000 and has recently been refunded through 2020.
Dean James M. Tien thanked President Obama for honoring CoE with his visit and for touting the University of Miami College of Engineering’s energy efforts, and for declaring “ We need more engineers. I could not be prouder of those of you (students) who are studying engineering.” Moreover Dean Tien notes that President Obama has recognized the College for work in sustainable energy systems, one of the three thrust areas (ie. healthcare and technobiology, informatics and risk, and sustainable systems). In fact, in his 2011 State of the Union address, President Obama highlighted the need for intensive research in these very same three areas: “ There is a critical need for biomedical research, information technology and especially clean energy technology.” The research activities highlighted by the President remain an integral part of the College’s mission to produce tomorrow’s technology leaders and, at the same time, to offer practical answers to national problems.
