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Do you want your research to change the world? Join us.

Dr. Pearce is presently seeking students at the Ph.D. level for research in photovoltaic materials, solar cells and applied sustainability. Details here.

Hot off the Press

B. Dawney and J.M. Pearce “Optimizing Solar Water Disinfection (SODIS) Method by Decreasing Turbidity with NaCl”, The Journal of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene for Development 2(2) pp. 87-94 (2012).

H. T. Nguyen and J. M. Pearce, “Incorporating Shading Losses in Solar Photovoltaic Potential Assessment at the Municipal Scale” Solar Energy 86(5), pp. 1245–1260 (2012). HAL

Ha T. Nguyen, Joshua M. Pearce, Rob Harrap, and Gerald Barber, “The Application of LiDAR to Assessment of Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic Deployment Potential on a Municipal District Unit”, Sensors, 12, pp. 4534-4558 (2012).

Joshua M. Pearce, Adegboyega Babasola, Rob Andrews, “Open Solar Photovoltaic Systems Optimization” Proceedings of the 16th Annual National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance Conference, Open 2012, pp. 1-7.

D.C. Denkenberger, M.J. Brandemuehl, J.M. Pearce, and J. Zhai, “Expanded microchannel heat exchanger: design, fabrication and preliminary experimental test”, Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers – Part A: Journal of Power and Energy (in press).

Solar Installer Insight: What Is the Best PV Panel for Your Roof? - Greentech Media

M.J.M. Pathak, J.M. Pearce and, S.J. Harrison, “Effects on Amorphous Silicon Photovoltaic Performance from High-temperature Annealing Pulses in Photovoltaic Thermal Hybrid Devices” Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 100, pp. 199-203 (2012). arXiv

Solar Power Pricey? It’s Cheaper Than Anyone Think - Fast Company Co.Exist

Joshua M. Pearce, “The Case for Open Source Appropriate Technology”, Environment, Development and Sustainability, 14, pp. 425-431 (2012).

Dirk V. P. McLaughlin and J.M. Pearce, “Analytical Model for the Optical Functions of Indium Gallium Nitride with Application to Thin Film Solar Photovoltaic Cells”, Materials Science and Engineering: B, 177, 239-244 (2012). arXiv

Welcome to the home of the Michigan Tech Open Sustainability Technology research group housed within the Department of Materials Science & Engineering and Electrical and Computer Engineering. We focus on open and applied sustainability, which is the application of science and innovation to ensure a better quality of life for all, now and into the future, in a just and equitable manner, whilst living within the limits of supporting ecosystems. Specifically we are interested in exploring the way solar energy can be used to provide clean sustainable electricity through photovoltaic devices and how the sharing of open source hardware and software can create sustainable and equitable means of production. See the full list of our recent publications here.

Coming soon: Solar powered self-replicating open-source 3-D printers - capable of making primary components of solar photovoltaic systems from recycled waste along with anything else you can design.

Predicted in J. M Pearce, C. Morris Blair, K. J. Laciak, R. Andrews, A. Nosrat and I. Zelenika-Zovko, “3-D Printing of Open Source Appropriate Technologies for Self-Directed Sustainable Development”, Journal of Sustainable Development 3(4), pp. 17-29 (2010).

Is that even possible?

How would global society change if everyone had access to abundant low-cost renewable energy via solar electricity, open source 3D designs and an affordable open source 3-D printer like the RepRap?

Want to be the first to find out? Join us.

How adding salt to drinking water - can in some cases make it safe to drink. -- Clean Drinking Water for Everyone

Usman Mushtaq and Joshua M. Pearce “Open Source Appropriate Nanotechnology ” Chapter 9 in editors Donald Maclurcan and Natalia Radywyl, Nanotechnology and Global Sustainability, CRC Press, pp. 191-213, 2012.

Angela R. Bielefeldt and Joshua M. Pearce, “Service Learning in Engineering” Chapter 2 in Thomas H. Colledge (Ed), Convergence: Philosophies and Pedagogies for Developing the Next Generation of Humanitarian Engineers and Social Entrepreneurs, NCIIA, pp.24-52 (2012). Free E-book pdf.

Joshua M. Pearce (CC-BY-SA) MTU MSE ECE