University of Michigan increases focus on alternative energy research

As energy prices shoot higher finding new ways to satisfy them are making their way farther and farther up the priority list for research. The University of Michigan is leading the way by incorporating more alternative energy research into its hallowed halls.

Excerpt:

Our energy problems won’t be solved by new technologies alone, say professors at the University of Michigan, which is trying to enlist the aid of experts in social science and human behavior in clean energy research.

Energy, which will be the subject of a theme semester involving students at U-M’s biggest college next fall, is becoming an increasing focus of research on campus. As that happens, professors say they need to take a more interdisciplinary approach to the complex questions surrounding energy and its use.

“When you look at technology, there’s an awful lot of great ideas and widgets that have never left the lab bench,” said Gary Was, director of the Michigan Memorial Phoenix Energy Institute on campus.

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