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星期二, 7月 02, 2019

"自然"稱MIT華裔科學家"心生恐懼" 抗議美國氛圍不友善


(Boston Orange 周菊子編譯整理)美國自然(Nature)”雜誌今(2)日發表文章,以心理恐懼為標題,描述麻省理工學院華裔科學家們大都有只因自己是華人,就被針對的感覺,並稱張曙光等學者已站出來抗議美國大環境中的不友善氛圍。
自然期刊的這篇文章提及,中國出生,已入籍美國,在麻省理工學院工作了25年,經常往返美國及亞洲各國的免疫學家陳劍筑(譯音,Jianzhu Chen)的遭遇。他今年5月從新加坡返美時,突然被海關人員拉到一旁,問他有沒為外國政府工作。文章引述陳劍筑的喟嘆,這讓人十分困擾,任何一個有中國血統的人都成嫌犯了
最近有越來越多人指稱,美國政府打擊外國影響行動,正不公平的以美國大專院校內,原籍中國教職員為對象。
康州新港的耶魯大學(Yale),加州的史丹福大學(Standford)等至少10所大專院校都發表聲明,支持華裔學者後,麻省理工學院校長Rafael Reif625日也發表了一封公開信,表示該校教職員,老師及學生已經告訴他,只因為他們是華人,如今和政府打交道都面對不公平的審查,汙衊和邊緣化。但學校會很小心,不會因為毫無根據的懷疑或恐懼,就在校園內造成有毒氛圍。
數個華裔美國科學家團體和紐約市的非牟利機構,”憂心的科學家委員會(Committee of Concerned Scientists)”一樣,已提高警覺,
              原本利用美國教授每隔約7年可享有1年休假福利,正在中國深圳南方科技大學交流的麻省理工學院機械工程系系主任陳剛,稍早前也決定縮短休假計畫,以避免引發他有可能把智慧財產權或科學知識,洩漏給中國同事的猜測。他說,目前的氛圍,已造成很多心理恐懼
            多名接受自然雜誌訪談的麻省理工學院科學家,都形容了近幾個月來,和美國政府打交道時的各種不舒服經驗,但他們也都說,為了因應校園內及美國的大環境,他們已在改變行為。
            自然雜誌稱,美國政府機構辯白自己沒有單獨挑出華裔科學家來檢驗,但強調在保持科學誠信和國際合作之際,有必要遏制大學院校受到過多的其他國家影響。
            目前的這種大環境,就是聯邦調查局(FBI),諸如國家衛生署(NIH)等科學機構的美國政府分支機構,為對抗潛在的外國政府偷取寶貴智慧財產權,施壓越來越強的結果。
            由於有中國背景的科學家,不論是美國公民或永久居民,經常是政府重點詰問對象,它們因而指控政府只是因為民族背景,就針對他們行動。
麻省理工學院物理學者Nicholas Fang表示,根據族裔樣貌(racial profiling)劃定,任何活動和中國有關,就可疑,那才是真正的問題
NIH去年八月開始大掃除計畫(sweeping initiative )”。美國研究機構收到該計畫的通知後,已解雇至少5名華裔研究員,理由包括未申報中國經費,研究者違反和政府支持項目有關的保密法。至少兩名研究人員已公開反駁這說法。
NIH強烈反駁種族歧視和調查有關。NIH校外研究副主任Michael Lauer表示,我們的重點不是特定的人,而是特定行為,特別是未透露來自外國機構的經費或聘雇協議。
他說,這些都和種族樣貌定義沒關係,全是非常特別的行為類型,觸及NIH公平,不偏頗做撥款決定能力的核心。
NIHLauer也告訴自然,由於NIH打壓的結果,許多大學已靜悄悄開除了更多科學家。他確認了從去年八月起,NIH已就未透露外國經費等指控,送出100多封信給61個研究機構,而大部分,並不是全部信件涉及的研究員是華人。
這些信反映麻省理工學院內漸增的不安。大學內的華裔科學家向自然描述的情況包括簽證申請耗時長得不尋常,進入美國時遭遇海關人員壓迫性質問,在校園內有執法人員出人意外的到訪
曾經在麻省理工學院工程系做博士後,現在北京的北京大學工作,要求在文章中不具名的人說,很恐怖,去年他曾經被聯邦調查員找去面談兩次。他認為那是因為他和中國招聘海外研究人員項目,千人計畫的關係。我覺得,只是因為我是華人,就被不公平的針對了。那沒必要,也是不對的。
聯邦調查局人員已公開形容千人計畫是從海外偷取專業知識資訊的方法。上個月,能源局禁止員工參加中國,北韓,俄國,伊朗經營的人才招聘項目。能源局發言人Kelly Love表示,我們針對的是項目,不是人,或是他們的國籍
在麻省理工學院校長發表公開信之前就表達關切的麻省理工學院媒體實驗室的蛋白質生物化學家張曙光,現在希望更多機構站出來發聲。上個星期以來,他已和美國及全世界的十多個大學及協會的行政主管聯繫,希望建立統一標準,以對抗他所說的對華裔科學家的偏頗對待。
已入籍美國成為公民,在麻省理工學院工作30多年的張曙光還表示,他也放棄美國政府獎助。我會從其他來源取得經費,例如私營企業。他恐怕其他的華裔科學家,可能索性就離開這個國家了。

羅德島普域敦斯市七月起有委瑞森5G服務


(Boston Orange 編譯)波士頓環球報今(2)日報導,新英格蘭也要品嚐5G滋味了。委瑞森(Verizon)通訊七月一日在羅德島州的普域敦斯市(Providence)推出超快的5G數據服務。
5G系統是設計來提供比目前4G更快的數據下載科技。委瑞森承諾下載速度每秒450 百萬位元(megabits),大概比最新4G服務快10倍。委瑞森還承諾,下載的最快速度可高達每秒1.5千兆字節(gigabites),快到在幾秒之內就可以下載一部完整的高清電影。
不過用戶得購買可以和更新網路相容的手機,價格大約在7001300元之間。此外,普域敦斯也只有某些地區有5G服務。
委瑞森表示,住在學院丘(College Hill),聯邦丘(Federal Hill),希望山(Mount Hope),以及布朗大學,羅德島設計學院,普域敦斯學院校園的居民,都可以享受5G服務,
5G服務使用無線電頻寬,距離更短,穿透大樓牆壁的能力更弱。有些早期使用者已抱怨5G訊號常常不見了,逼使電話用較慢的4G模式運轉。
委瑞森已承諾今年在包括波士頓市的30個美國城市提供5G服務。該公司的第一個5G服務是上星期在芝加哥,明尼蘇達,以及丹佛推出的。普域敦斯因此市委瑞森提供5G服務的第四大城市。美國的其他無線網路大公司,如T-MobilSprintAT&T,也已開始在其他城市推出5G服務。

Baker-Polito Administration Celebrates South Coast Rail Groundbreaking

Baker-Polito Administration Celebrates South Coast Rail Groundbreaking
Five-year capital investment plan includes $1 billion for project

FREETOWN – Today Governor Charlie Baker, Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito, MassDOT Secretary and CEO Stephanie Pollack and MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak joined municipal leaders, elected officials and local stakeholder groups to celebrate the beginning of Phase 1 South Coast Rail work and tour action taking place along the New Bedford Main Line in East Freetown, an area in which culvert work is taking place.

“South Coast Rail Phase 1 will connect Taunton, Fall River, New Bedford, and the surrounding areas to Boston, giving people more options to get to and from southeastern Massachusetts,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “We are proud to advance South Coast Rail further than it’s ever been as part of our administration’s $8 billion MBTA infrastructure investment plan over the next five years.”

“Having Phase 1 of South Coast Rail fully funded in the FY20-24 Capital Investment Plan is a significant milestone,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “Thank you to everyone who played a role in keeping this project going forward and we look forward to Phase 1’s start of service in 2023.”

“After years of advocacy, the day when this expansion project will provide service to Southeastern Massachusetts communities is finally in sight,” said MassDOT Secretary and CEO Stephanie Pollack. “This is a proud moment for MassDOT and the MBTA, and a proud moment for the Commonwealth. I look forward to watching the infrastructure in this corridor take shape and am eager for the day in 2023 when the very first train operates on this route carrying passengers.”

“Like the Green Line Extension, South Coast Rail is a priority that would not be possible without the strong support of the Baker-Polito Administration and the MassDOT and MBTA Boards,” said MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak. “The MBTA is excited to build on the foundation that MassDOT built, and to begin passenger rail service to the  South Coast in 2023.”

“Since the first SouthCoast Rail Groundbreaking Ceremony I attended twenty-one years ago, the necessity of this project has only become more clear,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues. “The communities of the SouthCoast deserve to be economically competitive with the rest of the region, and SouthCoast Rail is a large piece of that. I applaud the Baker-Polito Administration for finally making this long-promised project a reality.”

“This is a milestone for transportation equity in the commonwealth and it has been a long time coming,” said Representative Bill Straus, House chair of the Joint Committee on Transportation. “After many attempts over the decades to restore rail service to the southeastern Massachusetts, we are under construction of the early steps to restore Commuter Rail to our region. I want to single out for praise Governor Baker who has been committed to the project and kept the promises he made to find an innovative and effective way to enhance rail service with the Phase I connection through Middleboro."

“Residents in Greater New Bedford have been waiting years to gain access to Boston via rail,” said Senator Mark Montigny. “While we still have a long way to go to ensure completion, today marks a significant milestone in this long-overdue project.  I am thankful we have a committed partner in Governor Baker to help us finally achieve real success that will undoubtedly provide an economic boost to New Bedford.”

“Today’s groundbreaking on Phase 1 of South Coast Rail represents a significant turning point in the on-going fight towards regional transit equity in Massachusetts,” said Representative Antonio Cabral. “The future of transportation looks much brighter for New Bedford and the entire South Coast region, thanks to our collective, relentless efforts to bring this project to fruition.  I’m thrilled to be here today to see this project moving forward, which will provide New Bedford residents with commuter rail service we have long deserved.”

“Brockton’s 3 commuter rail stations have transformed how my region gets to work,” said Representative Michelle Dubois. “This extension of the Old Colony line will do the same for Fall River and New Bedford, while further expanding job options in my district and connecting our three similar Cities once again.”

“The South Coast Rail groundbreaking in Freetown is historic. For years, constituents of the South Coast have asked for more accessibility to Boston and the Commonwealth has spent years developing and planning this project,”said Representative Carole Fiola. “This groundbreaking symbolizes the physical start to this project which is beyond exciting and I am proud to be a part of it. I would like to thank the South Coast residents for their passion, persistence, and perseverance.”

“This is a great day for the people of New Bedford and Fall River who have been waiting so long for this project to come to fruition,” said Representative Susan Gifford. “But it is also a great step forward to expanding commuter rail service in the future to other areas of the South Coast such as Wareham and Buzzards Bay. I applaud the Baker-Polito Administration for their commitment to delivering the South Coast Rail Project.”

“We on the South Coast have been eagerly awaiting better transportation opportunities such as the rail for well over two decades. For us South Coast Rail is not just a means by which to get to greater Boston, but a means to expand our collective economic development efforts,” said Representative Patricia A. Haddad, Speaker Pro Tempore.

“It is imperative that the Commonwealth move firmly in the direction of lower emissions and reduced congestion,” said Representative Chris Hendricks. “This project works toward easing both of these urgent problems while providing South Coast residents improved access to jobs and other opportunities.” 

“The Baker/Polito Administration has made good on their promise to see that this rail system comes to fruition,” said Representative Steven Howitt. “South Coast Rail will not only be an economic boost to Southeastern MA, but the train will also, and more importantly, address the traffic congestion into Boston for the South Coast's many commuters.”

“This increased access will open new opportunities to residents of Southeastern Massachusetts who otherwise would have been prevented from travelling such great distances,” said Representative Paul Schmid. “The Baker/Polito team are delivering on what we in the south coast have been fighting for over the last 25 years.”

South Coast Rail early action projects currently underway have included infrastructure work on track, culverts, and bridges as well as the acquisition of land for stations:

                 Special track work: awarded to Progress Rail in December 2018 with shop drawings submitted for approval;
                 Early action culverts: awarded to JF White in March 2019 with right of way clearing having begun and the first culvert installed in late April 2019;
                 Early action for four bridges: contract awarded by MassDOT Board in April 2019.

Other South Coast Rail activities have included:

                 Developing Phase 1 Operations and Maintenance cost;
                 Advancing a portion of the Northern Corridor’s 30% design;
                 Development of MBTA Commuter Rail station design standards;
                 Ongoing community meetings;
                 Developing scopes for Force Account Agreements with utility companies, Mass Coastal Railroad, Keolis Commuter Services, and Amtrak;
                 Property acquisition for station sites.

In April 2019, MassDOT and the MBTA announced that the South Coast Rail Program recently reached two critical Phase 1 milestones. First, a finance plan was completed and fully funded in the Commonwealth’s Capital Investment Plan. Second, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) approved the final federal permit required for the program to advance.

With a recently agreed upon total program cost of $1.047 billion, Phase 1 of the South Coast Rail Program will be funded 100 percent by the Commonwealth through a combination of general obligation bonds and special obligation bonds to be issued under existing authorization for the Rail Enhancement Program. The MBTA is not required to issue any revenue bonds that might otherwise impact the MBTA’s future operating budgets. All bond cap provided to the South Coast Rail Program will be in addition to the bond cap that MassDOT currently receives to fund its capital plan. There will be no reduction in bond cap allocated to MassDOT as part of the South Coast Rail Finance Plan.

Other permitting milestones that have been achieved this year include the final USACE approval and the issuance of the Chapter 91 License, MassDEP 401 Permit, and the Mass Coastal Zone Management Consistency Review. 

South Coast Rail Phase 1 program management and oversight is also currently transitioning from MassDOT to the MBTA with the MassDOT Highway Division and Rail Group continuing to manage early action projects.

Additional elements of South Coast Rail Program Phase 1 work include:

                 Extending the existing Middleborough Line service using diesel-powered trains to New Bedford and Fall River;
                 Reconstructing 17.3 miles of the New Bedford Main Line and 11.7 miles of the Fall River Secondary;
                 Upgrading the existing Middleborough Secondary track from Pilgrim Junction to Cotley Junction (a distance of 7.1 miles);
                 Constructing two new layover facilities; and
                 Constructing six new stations.

LEXISNEXIS SETTLES MULTISTATE LAWSUIT OVER FALSE CLAIMS VIOLATIONS, MASSACHUSETTS TO RECEIVE $750,000

LEXISNEXIS SETTLES MULTISTATE LAWSUIT OVER FALSE CLAIMS VIOLATIONS, MASSACHUSETTS TO RECEIVE $750,000
LexisNexis Failed to Pay Law Enforcement Agencies for Resales of Vehicle Accident Reports

BOSTON – Attorney General Maura Healey announced today that LexisNexis Risk Solutions and several of its affiliates (LexisNexis) have agreed to settle a $5.8 million multistate lawsuit over claims that the company knowingly failed to pay contractually agreed fees for the resale of vehicle accident reports it obtained from law enforcement agencies in Massachusetts and other states.

Massachusetts will receive approximately $750,000 as part of the multistate settlement.

Today’s settlement agreement resolves a qui tam complaint brought by a whistleblower, a former employee of LexisNexis, under the Massachusetts False Claims Act, which allows individuals to file civil actions on behalf of the government and share in any recovery.

LexisNexis, a company that provides business research and risk management services, obtains automobile crash reports from law enforcement agencies, and then sells those reports to individuals, insurance companies, and law firms for use in claims adjustment. In Massachusetts, approximately 154 law enforcement agencies entered into contracts where LexisNexis agreed to pay the agencies a fee for each accident report it sold. AG Healey’s investigation revealed, however, that LexisNexis paid law enforcement agencies a fee the first time it sold a report but failed to pay the agencies for each subsequent sale of the same report, as required under the contracts.

Under the terms of the settlement agreement, LexisNexis has also agreed to discontinue its resale practice with law enforcement agencies in the state. 
The whistleblower will receive about $1.1 million out of the total multistate settlement amount of $5.8 million for bringing this misconduct to light.

AG Healey was joined in her investigation of LexisNexis by the attorneys general of Illinois, New Jersey, New York, and Tennessee, as well as the City Solicitor of Baltimore.

This matter was handled by Assistant Attorney General Erin Staab of AG Healey’s False Claims Division, with assistance from Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Walker, Senior Enforcement Counsel Gillian Feiner, Division Chief Amy Crafts, Paralegal Megan Lima, and Financial Investigator Colleen Frost.

星期一, 7月 01, 2019

AG HEALEY LEADS MULTISTATE LAWSUIT AGAINST EPA FOR FAILING TO REQUIRE ASBESTOS REPORTING NEEDED TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC

AG HEALEY LEADS MULTISTATE LAWSUIT AGAINST EPA FOR FAILING TO REQUIRE ASBESTOS REPORTING NEEDED TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC
EPA Denied AG Healey’s Petition to Ensure Full Evaluation and Regulation of Asbestos-Related Health Risks

            BOSTON – Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey and California Attorney General Xavier Becerra today led a coalition of 11 state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over its failure to require the chemical industry to provide the agency with the information it needs on asbestos to regulate it and protect the public from the serious health risks the substance poses.

            “Asbestos is a known carcinogen that kills tens of thousands of people every year, yet the Trump Administration is choosing to ignore the very serious health risks it poses for our residents,” said AG Healey. “We urge the Court to order EPA to issue this new rule to help protect workers, families, and children from this toxic chemical.”

“It is widely acknowledged that asbestos is one of the most harmful and toxic chemicals known to humankind,” said AG Becerra. “While it’s troubling that we must once again take the EPA to court to force the agency to do its job, we won’t pull any punches. There’s too much at stake to let the EPA ignore the danger that deadly asbestos poses to our communities, including to workers and children.” 

Asbestos is a highly hazardous mineral fiber used in a variety of piping and building materials, from roofing and flooring, to siding and wallboard, to caulking and insulation. Exposure to asbestos can lead to life-threatening illnesses, including asbestosis, lung cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, mesothelioma, and other lung disorders and diseases. Currently, those who import raw asbestos or articles that contain asbestos are exempt from providing EPA with information about imported asbestos, even though the agency needs this data to protect the public from exposures to this notoriously toxic chemical.   

            In January, AG Healey and AG Becerra led a coalition in filing apetition with EPA urging the agency to issue new regulations to provide data on the importation and use of asbestos in the United States. The coalition asserted that the new set of regulations is needed for the agency to meet its mandate under the Toxics Substances Control Act (TSCA) to prevent unreasonable risks to health and the environment presented by asbestos. The new rule would also help ensure EPA’s regulatory decisions are consistent with the best available science.

The EPA denied the states’ petition in late April. In their lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California challenging EPA’s denial of the petition, the coalition asserts that the denial of the petition was arbitrary and capricious and violates the agency’s obligations under TSCA.  

AG Healey’s Office is playing a leading role in opposing EPA’s efforts to loosen its regulation of toxic chemicals, including asbestos. In August 2018, AG Healey led a coalition of 12 state attorneys general, many of whom have joined today’s lawsuit, in filing comments with the EPA opposing its methodology for conducting risk evaluations for asbestos and other priority toxic chemicals and challenging the agency’s refusal to consider some of the most significant and potentially dangerous exposure risks posed by these chemicals.

Joining AG Healey and AG Becerra in filing the lawsuit are the attorneys general of Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington, and the District of Columbia.

This matter is being handled for Massachusetts by Assistant Attorney General Andrew Goldberg, of AG Healey’s Environmental Protection Division.

糾正違規不辦現象 麻州監理處吊銷630人駕照


                  (Boston Orange 周菊子編譯)麻州監理處為整頓,糾正來自他州違規資訊未及時處理的問題,最近吊銷了630張駕照。
              麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker),副州長白莉朵(Karyn Polito),交通廳廳長普拉克(
Stephanie Pollack)(1)日下午特地召開記者會,回應此事。
             根據麻州官方初步調查結果,麻州監理處(The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles)收到他州發來資訊,要求吊銷某些人的駕照時,未採取行動。麻州監理處代理處長Jamey Tesler表示,為糾正這種情況,麻州已經採取行動,迄今已吊銷360人的駕照。
本月初在新罕布夏州蘭都夫鎮(Randolph)23歲的西春田市居民Volodymyr Zhukovskyy開車衝進一列行駛中的摩托車,撞死7名駕駛,面對七項疏忽殺人罪辯稱無罪,麻州監理處的資料被相關人士找出來審閱後,引發疑問。
麻州監理處主管已辭職,有關人員也已承認,在新罕布夏州慘案發生前六週,Volodymyr Zhukovskyy在康州被逮捕時,就應該吊銷他的商業車駕照了。
麻州州長查理貝克在州政府的記者會中表示,對他來說,這樣的疏失完全不可接受。
            麻州交通廳廳長普拉克表示,問題變成,我們要如何整頓這問題,這些個案是怎麼積壓到這個程度的。
             調查發現麻州監理處在處理來自外州,有關商用駕照,以及更廣泛的,提供給監理處,有關書面,郵寄資訊等,和麻州有照駕駛的持照狀態相關議題通知上,有程序問題。

麻州中部中文學校在屋斯特亞洲文化日讓台灣發光

(左起)施維鈞組長、麻州中部中文學校校長
張堅毅、魏華蓉夫婦及歐宏偉主任在攤位
前合影。
          (Boston Orange) 麻州中部中文學校630日在屋斯特州立大學的「第16屆亞洲文化日」活動中,讓台灣發光,發亮。
屋斯特大學的東南亞聯盟630日在該校健康中心(Wellness Center)舉辦第16屆亞洲日,共有來自14個國家的代表,在會場擺攤,各以文宣,藝術,手工藝品,展示各國不同的文化、風俗。舞台上的唱歌,跳舞等表演,長達4小時,會場氣氛熱鬧無比,吸引了不下3000人到會。
麻州中部中文學校校長張堅毅,前校長賴建志和該校師生,家長,這天同心協力,以台灣美食,文宣搶鋒頭。
駐波士頓臺北經文處施維鈞組長()及僑教中心主任歐宏偉
(左一)到場,感謝校長張堅毅(左二)、前任校長賴建志(右二)
及以及多位教職員的付出與貢獻
應邀出席的駐波士頓臺北經文處組長施維均,波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉看到麻州中部中文學校校長,師生及家長的努力為台灣爭光,十分感動,直說台灣能在海外打開知名度,全靠這樣熱心的台灣人支持與付出,他們代表政府感謝他們幫助台灣推展公眾外交,在國際間讓更多人看見,知道台灣。

星期六, 6月 29, 2019

MIT CEO請胡啟朝分享能源創業經驗 (圖片)

MIT-CEO能源組首場講座,部分出席者與主講人合影。(周菊子攝)

MIT-CEO-CEO新任主席趙極(左),能源小組召集人高濤(右)
和主講人胡啟朝。(周菊子攝)
【MIT CEO 炉边谈话 | 11】
SolidEnergy Systems胡启朝:电池技术创新创业中的机遇和挑战

 炉边谈话是MIT CEO的系列活动的形式之一。每一期炉边谈话,我们会邀请创业领域的杰出人物作为嘉宾,给小伙伴们分享创业故事并进行近距离的互动交流。

 本期炉边谈话也是 MIT CEO Energy Community 活动的第一场.

        Dr. Qichao Hu (胡启朝博士) 是SolidEnergy Systems的创始人和CEO。胡博士于2007年获麻省理工学院物理学士学位,于2012年获哈佛大学应用物理博士学位。在博士期间师从MIT教授、电池领域著名科学家Donald Sadoway,从事基于固态聚合物的可充锂金属电池的研究。

       启朝在取得博士学位之后在MIT继续了一年的博士后研究,并建立了SolidEnergy Systems ,致力于全固态锂金属电池的产品开发和商业化。至今公司相继获得四轮融资,累计融资额超过8000万美元,成为储能领域的明星公司。目前该公司推出了三个产品系列,分别针对无人机、消费数码产品和电动汽车市场。SolidEnergy Systems曾获得诸多荣誉,包括 MIT $100K Entrepreneurship Competition’s Accelerator Contest 第一名, MIT Clean Energy Prize 决赛奖, 以及在白宫举行的DOE Clean Energy Prize 第二名等。胡启朝博士也入选 MIT TR35 以及 Forbes 30 under 30.

Dr. Qichao Hu    Qichao Hu (胡啟朝)


【Time】 Friday, June 28th, 2019 6:00-8:00 pm

【Venue】MIT Building E51 (Tang Center),
2 Amherst Street, Cambridge 02140

Room will be announced later via email to selected participants who have registered.

【Registration】
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfFPovmq5QKaNklIKiGarhcCBghETbfJd44sXVcKvUMUoHwkA/viewform?usp=pp_url

【Language】 Chinese

【Hosts】 MIT CEO (Energy Community)

【About Speaker】

 During Ph.D., Dr. Hu Initially studied photonics the manipulation of light, but didn't see the value in it and dropped out of Harvard after 2 years. Went to MIT and worked on several clean energy related projects in solar, energy policies, water purification, utility trading, got fired three times, and eventually ended up in a battery project. It was a soul searching period to find his place in the world.

After leaving Harvard and joining Prof. Sadoway's lab, He worked on solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) rechargeable lithium metal battery, and developed the polymer ionic liquid (PIL) rechargeable lithium metal battery.

The development of the polymer ionic liquid (PIL) rechargeable lithium metal battery in Prof. Sadoway's group eventually paved the way for the "Anode-free" battery that is at the core of SolidEnergy.

In 2012, he spent more time in the energy club and Sloan entrepreneurship center than in the battery lab, built the SolidEnergy team and actively participated in business plan competitions and won MIT$100K, MIT Clean Energy Prize, DOE Clean Energy Prize, and
 runner-up at the National Clean Energy Business Plan Competition. Most student teams ended after competitions, but he went on to build a real company.

 In the fall of 2012, several large US battery companies filed for bankruptcy including A123, investors that were initially excited about battery start up could't run away faster. It turned out to be one of the worst meltdowns in the history of the US lithium
 battery industry. He couldn't raise any funding (the competition prize money was drying up quickly), so he visited A123 on a "dumpster hunting" trip, and found lots of idling equipment and employees, so he asked them if they could help him build batteries.
 Initially they laughed, but then they taught him the whole process and before long he was going to A123 on weekends and evenings to build battery prototypes with SolidEnergy materials.

 Then in the spring of 2013, A123 was bought and came out of bankruptcy. Dr. Hu officially formed a partnership with A123. In September, investors were impressed by the prototypes and they raised Series A, and officially started SolidEnergy Systems...

Reference:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/qichao-hu-solidenergy/