POTSDAM -- Cornell University Professor of Physical Science Frank DiSalvo will speak on two topics related to sustainability at 3:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14 in Clarkson's Bertrand H. Snell Hall Room 213.

The talk is part of Clarkson’s New Horizons in Engineering Distinguished Lectureship Series.

DiSalvo will first describe how research can play a part in getting to a sustainable future and the role of universities in that endeavor. He will then present some of his own research, carried out in collaboration with many others, to invent new materials that may lead to more efficient energy transformations and to more affordable electrical energy storage.

Refreshments will precede the lecture at 3 p.m. The lecture is free and open to the public

The New Horizons in Engineering Distinguished Lectureship Series is dedicated to improving the understanding of important issues facing engineering and society in the 21st century.

The main goal of DiSalvo's research has been the synthesis of solid state materials and the understanding of chemical and physical phenomena in such solids. Phenomena of interest have included materials to enable fuel cell and battery technologies. In conjunction with many talented collaborators, he has published more than 500 scientific articles and holds or has pending 12 patents. Further information can be found at http://www.chem.cornell.edu/faculty/index.asp?fac=25 .

In addition to his research and teaching, DiSalvo has served on many panels for government agencies, most recently as a member of the Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee at DOE and of the Advisory Committee in the Directorate for Mathematics and Physical Sciences at NSF.