Nov. 15, 2012

Dr. Cynthia A. Walter, left, associate professor of biology, monitors the solar panel experiment of Matt Mackey, right, a junior environmental science major, utilizing one of 12 new solar panels recently acquired by the Saint Vincent College Herbert W. Boyer School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Computing for its environmental science laboratory in the Sis and Herman Dupré Science Pavilion. Utilizing a Labquest meter that measures light, current and voltage, Mackey is able to calculate the efficiency of the panel under differing conditions such as cloud cover, time of day and angle of the sun and compare these panels to the 90 full-size panels on the Pavilion roof. The panels will provide a hands-on opportunity for students to learn more about renewable energy sources and to prepare to work in the field of sustainable energy. The purchase of the experimental panels was made possible by a recent grant from the Dominion Foundation’s Higher Education Partnership Program. Mackey is from South Bend, Indiana.

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PR2012-533