IRES: U.S.-Greece Undergraduate Engineering Research on Sustainable Indoor Living Environments

这一美国-希腊国际学生研究体验(IRES)项目每年为希腊电子结构与激光研究所(IESL)和克里特大学(UoC)的八名美国高级工程本科学生提供高级培训，他们通过合作研究可持续的室内生活环境。所有活动都由西弗吉尼亚大学首席研究员Konstantinos Sierros和希腊同行George Kiriakidis指导，后者是IESL透明导电材料实验室的负责人。在国外，学生参与者将接触到与可持续生活技术的功能材料、设备和智能系统有关的研究趋势和工程挑战。具体地说，每个学生群体将在应用物理和工程的几个不同的可持续发展领域进行合作，开展以下方面的研究：基于金属氧化物的室内气体传感设备；用于改善空气质量的可印刷光催化材料；用于隔热的相变材料和真空绝缘板；以及材料和设备的生命周期分析。在国外获得整体研究经验的关键是获得合作伙伴位于IESL和克里特岛科技园联合办公场所的独特的欧洲原型设施。该场地将作为IRES活动的试验台和技术集成设施。为本科生提供的关于可持续技术的早期职业培训和国际研究经验有助于培养下一代节能和可持续生活环境专家，从而有助于提高美国未来的竞争力。这些参与全球事务的学生有望成为我们未来工程、能源和可持续发展劳动力的中坚力量。他们宝贵的培训和文化参与是通过在IESL/UOC期间为参与者提供仔细的指导，以及在IRES经验完成之前、期间和之后促进与国际同行的有效合作来确保的。对于更广泛的影响，该项目的成果预计还将加强西弗吉尼亚大学和IESL/UOC之间未来的长期可持续性研究合作。

This U.S.-Greece International Research Experience for Students (IRES) project annually offers eight U.S. senior undergraduate engineering students advanced training through cooperative research on sustainable indoor living environments at the Greek Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser (IESL) and the University of Crete (UoC). All activities are guided by the West Virginia University principal investigator, Konstantinos Sierros, and his Greek counterpart, George Kiriakidis who directs the Transparent Conducting Mterials Lab at IESL. While abroad, student participants will gain exposure to research trends and engineering challenges that concern functional materials, devices, and smart systems for sustainable living technologies. Specifically, each student cohort will work collaboratively in several distinct sustainability areas at the interface of applied physics and engineering by conducting research on: metal oxide-based indoor gas sensing devices; printable photocatalytic materials for improving air quality; phase change materials and vacuum insulation panels for thermal insulation; and life-cycle analysis of materials and devices. Key to the overall research experience abroad is access to the partner's unique European prototypal facility located at the combined premises of IESL and the Science and Technology Park of Crete. This site will serve as a test-bed and technology integration facility for the IRES activities. The early career training and international research experience for undergraduate students on sustainable technologies can contribute to future U.S. competitiveness by helping to develop the next generation of experts on energy-efficient and sustainable living environments. Such globally engaged students are expected to become the backbone of our future engineering, energy and sustainability workforce. Their valuable training and cultural engagement are ensured by providing participants with careful mentoring while at IESL/UoC and by fostering effective collaboration with international counterparts before, during, and upon completion of the IRES experience. For broader impact, the results of this project also are expected to strengthen future, long-term sustainability research collaboration between West Virginia University and IESL/UoC.