From Hurricane Simulators to Solar Batteries for Kids, UM Aligns Resources for Climate Awareness

CORAL GABLES, Fla., June 1, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With 12 named storms predicted this Atlantic hurricane season and South Florida as ground zero for sea level rise, the University of Miami has launched a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary online resource to raise awareness about the threat of climate change. UM, one of the country's top research universities, has enlisted experts from its 11 schools and colleges for a climate change and sustainability crusade that President Julio Frenk believes will lead to "better understanding of the changing climate and ways we can adapt now to mitigate the pressures on future generations."

Rolled out in time for Earth Day, UM's Climate Change Report (http://climate.miami.edu) is fast becoming a reference point for turning academic research into viable solutions to environmental threats. It features more than 40 articles, videos and photo galleries and links to climate-related projects in progress by more than 70 scientists, researchers, and faculty.

Here are some highlights:

Hurricane and Storm Surge Simulator
The $50 million indoor SUSTAIN (SUrge-STructure-Atmosphere INteraction) lab, the biggest wind-wave simulation facility in the world, can generate surges and wind up to Category 5 intensity.  Housed at UM's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, SUSTAIN helps researchers learn how to build more resilient structures in coastal communities.    
http://climate.miami.edu/the-complex-climate/hurricanes-on-demand/

Teaching Children to Build Solar Panels
A student researcher at the College of Arts and Sciences is bringing solar awareness into classrooms through USolar, which teaches children how to build inexpensive photovoltaics that convert sunlight into clean energy.
http://climate.miami.edu/renewable-energy/um-student-launches-usolar-project/

Turning Junkyard Waste into Fuel
A professor at the College of Engineering is retrofitting automobile engines to run more efficiently on methane gas from organic materials in landfills. 
http://climate.miami.edu/renewable-energy/methane-as-a-fuel-source/

To see the full report, visit http://climate.miami.edu/ 

The University of Miami's mission is to educate and nurture students, to create knowledge, and to provide service to our community and beyond. Committed to excellence and proud of the diversity of our University family, we strive to develop future leaders of our nation and the world. www.miami.edu

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SOURCE University of Miami

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