Contact: Phil Hearn
A panel of business, government and university experts will examine possible transportation solutions to the nation's critical energy problems Thursday [April 21] during a Challenge X discussion forum at Mississippi State.
The 3-5 p.m. public meeting in the Parker Ballroom of the university's Hunter Henry Center is sponsored by a team of MSU engineering students. They are seeking to design an alternatively powered vehicle as part of national, three-year Challenge X project.
Justin Crapps, a senior mechanical engineering major from Florence, Ala., noted that with spiraling gasoline prices and the continuing depletion of fossil fuels, Americans are looking for innovative ways to solve related economic and environmental problems.
Following a 2 p.m. opening reception, the forum will get under way at 3 p.m. An open discussion by eight distinguished panelists will be preceded by a five to 10-minute introduction describing critical energy problems and how transportation can be modified to address them. At 4:30 p.m., panelists will field questions from the audience--including members of the media.
At 4:45 p.m., Colin Scanes, MSU's vice president for research and graduate studies, will discuss ongoing university research and how it is helping find solutions to the nation's critical energy problems. President Charles Lee will conclude the program with remarks scheduled for 5 p.m.
For the other participants, see http://www.msstate.edu/web/media/detail.php?id=2863.
Reporters wishing to schedule individual interviews with a participant either before or after the program should contact as soon as possible either Crapps at (662) 312-3251 or jmc19@msstate.edu or jcrapps@cavs.msstate.edu., or project adviser Marshall Molen at 325-3912 or molen@ece.msstate.edu.