Takeuchi to deliver RENEW lecture

“Energy Storage: A Keystone in the Renewable Energy Future” is the topic of the next lecture in the RENEW Institute’s Distinguished Lecture Series on Nov. 16.

The lecture will be given by Esther S. Takeuchi, SUNY Distinguished Professor and William and Jane Knapp Chair in Energy and the Environment at Stony Brook University and chief scientist in the Energy Sciences Directorate at Brookhaven National Laboratory.

The lecture will take place from 1-2:45 p.m. in 101 Davis Hall, North Campus. After an introduction and remarks by Provost Charles F. Zukoski, Takeuchi will speak from 1:15-2 p.m.; informal discussion led by Liesl Folks, dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, will immediately follow the talk.

Takeuchi is one of the world's leading scientists in energy storage and battery development. A recipient of the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, she is a member of the National Inventors Hall of Fame and the National Academy of Engineering, as well as a charter member of the National Academy of Innovation.

Takeuchi was Greatbatch Professor in Power Sources Research in the UB School of Engineering and Applied Sciences before joining Brookhaven and Stony Brook in 2012.

Prior to her academic appointment at UB in 2007, she spent more than 20 years at Greatbatch Inc., where her work in lithium battery research, particularly on cells for implantable applications, led to a number of key technological developments. Her work was instrumental in the development of the lithium/silver vanadium oxide (Li/SVO) battery, which is the power source for life-saving implantable cardiac defibrillators (ICDs). ICDs are the leading therapy for treating serious cardiac arrhythmia, with more than 300,000 lifesaving devices implanted per year.

A prolific inventor, Takeuchi has earned more than 150 patents.

RENEW’s Distinguished Lecture Series seeks to promote dialogue and interaction between UB faculty, staff and students, and the local community with renowned leaders in science, technology and policy in academic, industry and government.

Led by the Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development, RENEW (Research and Education in eNergy, Environment and Water) promotes interdisciplinary research activities to position UB as a global leader in select areas of energy, environment and water.