Nov. 15, 2024
Contact: Janese Heavin, [email protected]
Photos by Abbie Lankitus

University of Missouri researchers from around campus are exploring innovative solutions to the nation's energy challenges with support from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). This week, they had the opportunity to meet with Harriet Kung, leader of the DOE's Office of Science, who visited Mizzou for the second President's Distinguished Lecture.

Kung also met with students, faculty and staff, and toured the MU Research Reactor.

See photos from her visit.

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Marisa Chrysochoou, dean of the College of Engineering, introduced Kung to a crowd at Monsanto Auditorium in the Bond Life Sciences Center. Among the audience were researchers from engineering, physics, plant sciences and other disciplines with active DOE-funded projects.

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University of Missouri President Mun Choi welcomes Kung. As part of the President's Distinguished Lecture, Choi invites notable leaders of world-renowned organizations to share their expertise with the Mizzou community.

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During her address, "Science for Energy," Kung discussed DOE's history, the energy challenges facing the U.S., including energy demands from artificial intelligence, and opportunities for new partnerships to advance solutions.

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Following her talk, Kung answered questions from the audience about energy topics and ways students can get involved in energy-related research.

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Kung met with individual students and faculty, including researchers working to advance energy generation, storage, efficiency and policy.

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During her visit, Kung toured the MU Research Reactor (MURR), where researchers contribute to vital radiopharmaceutical development as part of DOE's Isotope Program. She also heard about plans for the university's new reactor, NextGen MURR, which will be twice as powerful as MURR, and the MU Center for Energy Innovation, which will bring together engineers, physicists, chemists and public policy experts to explore innovative ways to address energy and AI challenges.

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In 2023, 1.6 million cancer and cardiac patients were treated with radioisotopes produced at MURR.

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Kung met with Mizzou faculty, including MURR administrators and researchers, during her time on campus.

"We are proud to partner with the DOE and the Office of Science to address the most significant energy challenges facing our nation and to educate the workforce of the future," Choi said on his blog. "It was an honor to host Dr. Kung and to learn from her experience and leadership."

Center for Energy Innovation | MURR

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