Solar Decathlon

Two weeks ago I had the opportunity to travel to Washington, DC for a series of meetings but also to see Purdue’s Solar House which the College of Technology has taken a lead role.  The solar house was quite impressive with a good mix of technology and aesthetics making it one of the most competitive entries of the 19 from around the world.  Although it ended up in second place overall, it was a great effort on the part of the students, faculty, staff, alumni, industry sponsors, and friends.  The winning entry was the University of Maryland who came in second at the previous competition.

Even more impressive is that of the students and faculty that have been working on this project for nearly 2-years.  It was great to see the excitement of the students and faculty as they interacted with each other and the visitors taking tours on the National Mall.  The teamwork displayed by students and faculty in six of our colleges at Purdue was one of the most memorable experiences I have had in my many years in higher education.

One of the best views of the house was by standing in front and to the left and seeing the Washington Monument in the background.  That great national symbol in the background made me think of the significant contributions our graduates have on our nation and the tremendous responsibility we have to continually improve and provide opportunities for our students to learn and grow.

Congratulations to all those involved in the solar decathlon team.

About The Author

Gary Bertoline's picture
Gary R. Bertoline is Dean of the Purdue Polytechnic Institute, a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Computer Graphics Technology, and a Professor of Computer & Information Technology. Prior to becoming dean, he served as Associate Dean for Graduate Studies in the College of Technology. From 1995 through 2002, Gary served as Department Head of Computer Graphics Technology at Purdue University.