Sustainability Forum at Florida Tech

This conference includes Frank Leslie’s session on March 7th on Renewable (Sustainable) Energy from 2:00 p.m. until 4:20 p.m.

News Release
MELBOURNE, FLA.—Florida Tech will address smart growth and environmental sustainability at its fourth international, interdisciplinary forum, “Sustainable Pathways: New Research and Practices,” on March 6-7 on campus. The forum is a collaborative effort of the Florida Tech College of Business and

College of
Science, and Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME). The public is invited to attend. And additional sponsors are being sought.“The forum will focus on practical solutions to emerging sustainability issues from business, science and socio-political viewpoints,” said Gordon L. Nelson, dean of Florida Tech’s

College of
Science. “It is designed to appeal to a varied audience and will offer the latest academic research and perspectives for practitioners and public policy makers.”Speakers complementing Florida Tech and BME speakers will include Ken Lindeman, Environmental Defense Fund; Isabella Bunn, Oxford University;  Keith Winsten, Brevard Zoo; Laurilee Thompson, Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival; Duane E. De Freese, Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute; Terry Gibson, Florida Sportsman Magazine; Mark Chatelain, Johnson Controls; William Broussard, Forever Florida; Bob Martinez, former Governor of Florida; Suzanna Hecht, UCLA and Princeton University; Frank Jackalone, Sierra Club, Florida; and Steven Seibert, executive director of the Century Commission for a Sustainable Florida, to name a few.Sponsors include: Environmental Defense Fund, FP&L, Waste Management and Florida Institute of Technology.Online registration is available at http://research.fit.edu/sustainability/register.phpA conference registration fee of $85 entitles registrants to attend all daily sessions as well as luncheons. The fee is $25 for students. A separate fee of $45 covers a keynote dinner on the evening of March 6. For more information, and to register, contact Linda Ward at (321) 674-7573 or at lward@fit.edu.

FIT’s Racing Electric Vehicle

Florida Tech now has a group of senior students who are working on an electric sprint vehicle similar to a Formula One racer. The car is called a “Racing Electric Vehicle” or REV. It will have many small lithium ion batteries that will produce 144 volts at up to 120 amps. Check out the concepts at their website, http://my.fit.edu/rev/.

Here’s a sample,

“REV, the Racing Electric Vehicle, is a Florida Tech original design project dedicated to creating a successful project with strong leadership and team support. The REV promotes community awareness, publicity, and expands knowledge of electric vehicles.

This project comes from a tradition of Motor Sports at Florida Tech. For years now FIT has been competing in the Formula SAE and Mini Baja competitions. This year we hope to begin a new tradition at FIT as we introduce Florida Tech to the growing field of electric racing. From here we don’t know where it will lead. To an electric SAE competition? To years of future electric Florida Tech Race Cars? We hope for both, but first we need your help to make this inaugural year a reality and a shining success”

This isn’t a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV) similar to a golf cart. The REV will likely reach 60 mph and will have an acceleration of 0 to 60 mph in four seconds! The design has passed the preliminary design review and the cost is approximately $20,000. Sponsors will be welcomed.

Frank R. Leslie,

Adjunct Professor,

Florida Institute of Technology, DMES