You can’t win if you don’t play. It never hurts to ask. Don’t assume. We’ve heard ‘em all before.
Larry Banta can tell you they’re true, at least in his recent experience.
Banta, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering in the Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, will be traveling to Italy after being chosen by the Fulbright Scholar Program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Banta will be conducting research on several aspects of fuel cell and gas turbine hybrid electric generation at the University of Genoa in Genoa, Italy.
“Last year a professor from UNIGE, Dr. Alberto Traverso, came to Morgantown to do research at the Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory, where I was also doing research,” Banta said. “Dr. Traverso’s department chair invited me to come to UNIGE to work with their staff on advanced energy generation and management.”
Banta applied to the Fulbright program for funding for his trip, thinking it was a long shot. “I applied to the program hoping, but not really expecting, to be selected,” Banta said. “The program is highly competitive and I had never written a proposal to Fulbright before.”
Provost Michele Wheatly is less surprised.
“Dr. Banta is a top-notch researcher,” she said. “His receipt of this award confirms what many across campus – and around the world – already know, that our faculty are among the best anywhere. “
“This is a highly prestigious international award that recognizes Dr. Banta’s lifetime achievements in his professional career, as well as his contributions to enriching the educational, economic, social and cultural lives of people around the world,” said Jacky Prucz, chair of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.
According to Banta, UNIGE has one of the best hybrid electric generator research facilities in the world. Moreover, they are pioneers in the areas of hybrid generation systems, smart grids, advanced conventional power generation and other areas of energy conversion, management and efficiency.
Banta is looking forward to his sojourn in Genoa for several reasons. His first priority is to “rejuvenate” his research.
“I am looking forward to writing papers, writing proposals and delving deeply into research in the area of energy efficiency, which has been the focus of my research for 30 years,” he said. “I also hope to serve as an emissary for the Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources and for WVU in general, and to expand the cooperative agreement between WVU and UNIGE to other interested departments and colleges.”
Last summer, with Traverso’s help, Banta worked the Office of International Programs to define a set of courses for UNIGE and MAE that would transfer credit completely between the two. Statler College has one student, Zachary Santer, who is studying and doing research at UNIGE. Paolo Pezzini, a student from Genoa, is currently working on his doctorate at WVU.
-WVU-
mcd/04/05/12
CONTACT: Mary C. Dillon; Statler College
304.293.4086; mary.dillon@mail.wvu.edu
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