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U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science and the National Laboratories Embark on a Collaborative Journey with FVSU's Cooperative Development Energy Program

Fort Valley State University's (FVSU) Cooperative Development Energy Program (CDEP) recently hosted a momentous visit from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), featuring distinguished representatives from the Office of Science and the Office of Economic Impact and Diversity. The half-day event, designed to integrate FVSU students and faculty into the cutting-edge research conducted at the National Laboratories, served as a testament to the University's commitment to fostering scientific excellence and innovation. 

Gracing the occasion was the esteemed Asmeret Asefaw Berhe, Ph.D., Director of the Office of Science at the U.S. Department of Energy, who articulated her deep appreciation for the opportunity to lead the delegation of DOE Office of Science leadership and science leaders from across the national laboratories to FVSU.  

"It was an honor for me to lead the delegation of DOE Office of Science leadership and science leaders from across the national labs to visit FVSU. I have long appreciated the incredible STEM mentoring of CDEP and other programs at FVSU,” said Berhe.  “We are eager to strengthen the relationship of FVSU with DOE and our national laboratories to ensure that students and faculty at FVSU can benefit from the research funding and capabilities we provide from the Office of Science." 

Representatives from the following national laboratories were also in attendance: Argonne National Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, and Standard National Accelerator Laboratory, along with the DOE's Office of Economic Impact and Diversity, emphasizing the collective dedication to fostering collaborative research efforts. 

Isaac Crumbly, Ph.D., Associate Vice President of Careers and Collaborative Programs and Director of the Cooperative Developmental Energy Program at FVSU, extended gratitude to Arts and Sciences Dean Fares Howari for his instrumental role in connecting FVSU's research faculty and students with the visiting representatives. 

 "It was an honor and a pleasure to have Dr. Berhe visit the FVSU campus. We have known about each other for quite some time, in that both of us are recipients of the Geological Society of America's (GSA) Randolph and Lucille Bromery Award, as well as both of us are GSA Fellows," Crumbly remarked. "We are looking forward to strengthening FVSU's relationship with the DOE Office of Science and the national laboratories so that FVSU students and faculty have access to internships and research opportunities.” 

Berhe, currently on leave from the University of California, Merced, is a renowned figure in the field of soil science, global change science, and political ecology, with a notable focus on the intricate role of the soil system in regulating the earth's climate. Her illustrious career includes serving as the Chair of the U.S. National Committee on Soil Science and as a member of the Board of International Scientific Organizations at the National Academies. Berhe holds a B.Sc. in Soil and Water Conservation from the University of Asmara, an M.Sc. in Political Ecology from Michigan State University, and a Ph.D. in Biogeochemistry from the University of California, Berkeley. Managing an $8.1 billion budget for the U.S Department of Energy's Office of Science, Berhe's leadership and expertise have made a profound impact on the scientific community. 

The collaborative exchange between FVSU, the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science, and the national laboratories signifies a crucial step forward in fostering a culture of research excellence and academic advancement within the university and beyond. 

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