ECU CSE3 Newsletter

Note from the Editor

Dear readers,

We hope you’re enjoying the summer and finding time to relax and recharge! Here at the Center for Sustainable Energy and Environmental Engineering (CSE3), it’s been a busy season filled with exciting events and projects advancing clean energy and sustainability.

As part of our commitment to promoting sustainable energy, we participated in the ECU Sustainability Earth Day Festival and the Clean Energy High School Career Fair with the Center for Energy Education (C4EE) this past season. It was inspiring to meet students, talk about careers in renewable energy, talk about how cars can be powered by clean energy, and share the innovative work we’ve been doing. These community events are a vital way for us to connect and inspire the next generation of engineers and environmental leaders.

This summer has also been a meaningful time for us to strengthen ties with industries across North Carolina. We’ve continued supporting facilities through energy, water, and lean assessments, while also delivering impactful technical courses on energy efficiency and ISO environmental management standards. We’re grateful for the trust you place in us and remain committed to helping companies reduce their environmental impact while advancing sustainability goals.

Beyond our direct services, we’re driving progress in solar, wind, and ocean energy research and supporting students who are passionate about creating change. We’re proud to be part of work that benefits not only careers and industries but also the planet.

Thank you for supporting us and being part of our community. We’re excited for more projects, more progress, and more ways to get involved this fall!

Sincerely,

Marly Irby, PhD
Environmental Specialist – Pollution Prevention
Center for Sustainable Energy and Environmental Engineering
East Carolina University

On May 2nd, CSE3 had the awesome opportunity to participate in the Clean Energy High School Career Fair at the Center for Energy Education in Roanoke Rapids, NC. Our Pollution Prevention Specialists, Marly and Pablo, had a great time connecting with passionate high school students and sparking their interest in renewable energy and sustainability.

It was inspiring to see so many young people excited about clean energy careers and the future of our planet.CSE3 had a blast showcasing hands-on experiments to demonstrate how solar and hydrogen technologies can produce clean energy. It was a great chance to share what we’ve learned, answer questions, and highlight the many ways students can get involved in the clean energy field. Events like this are so important in inspiring the next generation of clean energy professionals and we’re excited to be part of the conversation!

On April 29, CSE3 had the privilege of attending the State Energy Conference of North Carolina at the McKimmon Center. Our Director, Dr. Tarek Abdel-Salam, and Pollution Prevention Specialist, Pablo Nuñez, represented the Center at our booth, connecting with industry professionals from all over the state. The conference offered an invaluable opportunity to network, exchange resources, and discuss strategies for improving energy efficiency, sustainability, and pollution prevention in North Carolina’s manufacturing sector.

Ash Davis, Creative Design and Communications Assistant

Ash has been a valuable member of the CSE3 team since January 2025, and their contributions this year have been nothing short of remarkable. They have played a central role in helping revamp the center, taking the lead on various key initiatives.

One of their primary responsibilities has been managing and overseeing our Instagram and LinkedIn accounts, where they’ve consistently created engaging posts that showcase our work and connect with our community. In addition to social media, Ash has been instrumental in designing and producing several of our email campaigns, ensuring that our messages reach the right audience with creativity and clarity. They’ve also been a key player in developing the promotional posters that have helped elevate our brand’s presence.

Ash’s talents extend beyond digital content creation. During our events, they’ve contributed their photography skills, capturing memorable moments that showcase the energy and success of our programs. On top of all that, Ash has played a pivotal role in coordinating webinars, ensuring that everything runs smoothly for our guest speakers and attendees.

Their dedication, creativity, and organizational skills have had a lasting impact on the success of CSE3 this year. We’re lucky to have Ash on our team!

In his research at Michigan State University, Adam Mayer explores an intriguing paradox: while countries rich in oil and coal have the economic power from fossil fuel production, they may not necessarily experience better energy security. His study reveals that these nations, despite their natural resource wealth, can struggle with long delays in electricity connections and frequent power outages.

Surprisingly, oil production was linked to slightly better electricity access, but the improvements were minimal. Mayer’s work raises important questions about how fossil fuel wealth is distributed. While these countries generate significant profits, their people don’t always see the benefits in terms of reliable energy. The research suggests that governments in resource-rich nations could do more to reinvest their fossil fuel revenues into improving energy infrastructure and better serving their populations. This is crucial for sustainability, as reliable and equitable access to energy is essential for economic development, human well-being, and environmental stewardship.

Without addressing energy insecurity, these nations, especially ours, may continue to face long-term challenges in achieving sustainable growth and improving quality of life for their citizens.

Babacar Niass, CSE3 Research Assistant: Attending a technical course about energy efficiency helped me realize how deeply we are related to the environment and how important it is to take care of it. Contributing to different research projects also expanded my knowledge in various engineering-related topics.

Katie Sperry, CSE3 Pollution Prevention Coordinator: Reaching out to professionals to speak at the webinars has introduced me to experts in a variety of fields. It’s expanded my network beyond just ECU and has allowed me to learn about other opportunities and fields.

Webinar: Pursuing Cost-effective Solar Fuels and Green Chemicals

Date: Wednesday, September 10, 2025
Time: 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM EST
Location: MS Teams

Speaker: Dr. Joshua M. Spurgeon; Solar Fuels Theme Leader, Conn Center for Renewable Energy Research, University of Louisville

Solar energy is a widely available renewable resource with great promise for displacing greenhouse-gas-emitting fossil fuels, but widespread deployment of solar as a primary energy generation technology will require effective energy storage solutions to mitigate the intermittency of sunlight. A promising approach is to store solar energy in the form of chemical bonds, i.e., as fuels.

**Event free to attend

RSVP for Webinar: Pursuing Cost-effective Solar Fuels and Green Chemicals