Tag John

John B. Goodenough, UT professor and developer of the lithium-ion battery, died Sunday on the age of 100.

“John’s legacy is a shining instance of advancing our analysis and educating mission, and his contributions to battery science and engineering will probably be felt far into the longer term,” Government Vice President and Provost Sharon  Wooden stated in an electronic mail announcement. 

In 2019, Goodenough turned the oldest individual awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work in growing the lithium-ion battery, the rechargeable energy supply for telephones, laptops and different modern-day electronics. 

“He was an early adopter of interdisciplinary analysis, working intently all through his profession with scientists and engineers from a wide range of disciplines,” Wooden stated.

Goodenough started his profession on the College at 64 years outdated, the place he served as a college member within the Cockrell Faculty of Engineering for 37 years, in keeping with a press launch. 

“John’s legacy as an excellent scientist is immeasurable — his discoveries improved the lives of billions of individuals around the globe,”  UT President Jay Hartzell stated on Instagram. “John’s work and dedication to our mission are the last word reflection of our aspirations as Longhorns – that what begins right here modifications the world — and he will probably be vastly missed amongst our UT neighborhood.”

Gov. Greg Abbott appointed John Michael Austin because the Pupil Regent for the College of Texas System Board of Regents earlier this month for a time period lasting from June 2023 to Might 2024. 

The Pupil Regent is a non-voting member of the Board of Regents who represents college students throughout all 13 establishments throughout the UT System. The governor appoints a pupil beneficial by the chancellor of the UT System. 

“The Pupil Regent serves as a voice for college kids by bringing a well-informed pupil perspective to the deliberations of the Board of Regents,” former Pupil Regent Neelesh Mutyala mentioned in a press release. “Having college students in thoughts on the forefront of each dialogue, the opposite regents listened attentively and significantly valued my enter.”

Austin is a third-year medical pupil on the College of Texas Well being Science Middle at San Antonio’s Lengthy College of Drugs. He beforehand served because the Legislative Director for the Chairman of Home Insurance coverage within the Texas Home of Representatives, the place he authored a invoice to enhance entry to insulin for uninsured Texans. Based on the UT System’s web site, Austin additionally served because the President of the Texas Medical Affiliation chapter at UT Well being Science Middle – San Antonio.

“My expertise as a legislative staffer taught me how digging into points and creating novel options might permit me to assist meaningfully enhance the lives of Texans,” Austin mentioned in a press release. “I view this regent position as one other alternative to each study and take what I’ve discovered to maximise the worth college students get from the UT system.”

As Pupil Regent, Austin mentioned he seems to be ahead to making sure college students get essentially the most worth out of their schooling at a UT establishment, whether or not by conserving tuition inexpensive or enhancing job prospects after commencement. 

“The mission I’m trying ahead to essentially the most entails studying extra about present efforts to facilitate pupil job placement after each graduate and undergraduate diploma completion and supporting elevated alternatives for co-ops and internships,” Austin mentioned. “I imagine the UT System is considered one of Texas’ greatest drivers of financial alternative, and serving to college students safe a job they’re pleased with after commencement is considered one of our most necessary markers of success.”

As a former Pupil Regent, Mutyala mentioned he recommends the Pupil Regent interact with college students all through the UT system and develop robust relationships with directors. 

“I’ve had an opportunity to speak to John Michael and know he’s a passionate chief who might be a powerful voice for all UT System college students,” Mutyala mentioned. “I look ahead to his upcoming service as our Pupil Regent.”