UWP engineering professor to conduct research in Australia
Harold Evensen, associate professor of engineering physics at UW-Platteville, will work with other professors at the University of Newcastle Center for Organic Electronics, conducting research on plastic solar cells at the nanometer level. PLATTEVILLE- Harold Evensen, associate professor of engineering physics at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, will spend the spring 2008 semester on sabbatical at the University of Newcastle in Australia.
After seven years of employment at UWP, professors are eligible to request a sabbatical. During a sabbatical, professors do research and may also teach. Sabbaticals are designed to keep the professors current and active in their field. Evensen chose Australia for his sabbatical because he had contacts there. One of Evensen's goals is to get more information on the course offerings and accreditation of the university. The University of Newcastle is a partner school in the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science International Exchange Program. Evensen has two advisees who are going to New Castle so he hopes that having a better understanding of the university and what it has to offer will help him to better advise students involved in the International Exchange Program.
"The international exchange is a wonderful thing, everyone should do it. It's a great experience. Engineers can do the exchange without losing time because they take engineering courses abroad. The key is to plan," Evensen said.
Evensen will work with other professors in the Center for Organic Electronics, doing research on plastic solar cells at the nanometer level. The solar cells are made of polymers that convert sunlight into electricity. Evensen's research will focus on mixing the polymers evenly on a 50 nanometer scale. Solar cells are widely used in camping equipment. The goal of the research is to develop a plastic solar cell that is inexpensive to produce.
"I'm excited about the research. I'll get the physics end of it. I hope to learn a lot since it's something I've never done before," Evensen said.
Besides research, Evensen is most looking forward to the experience of living and working in a foreign country and for the opportunity for his children to attend school in Australia. He says it will be a family adventure.
The University of Newcastle houses more than 26,000 students, including 3,500 international students from over 80 countries. It ranks within Australia's top 10 research universities.
Engineering students interested in doing an exchange in Australia should contact the Center for International Exchange Programs at (608) 342-1561.
Contact: Harold Evensen, associate professor, engineering physics, (608) 342-1531, evensenh@uwplatt.edu
Prepared by: Krystle Kurdi, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194, kurdik@uwplatt.edu
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