A Mountainous Romp in Science and Life!

Eric S. Peterson, B.S., Ph.D., Founder REMADE Institute

Performing scientific experiments and climbing mountains have much in common! Both are filled with choices and opportunities that are both exciting and challenging. As a young scientist I was heavily influenced by my family as well as my mentors that shaped my interests in science, technology and the outdoors.  Starting out in biology and wandering into chemistry, followed by interests in polymers, materials, separations science and lots of other stuff, I have had the privilege of working with some really wonderful folks while building a family and climbing many mountains at the same time.  This lecture will summarize several key points in my career (both as a scientist and a mountaineer) as well as discuss future opportunities in science and engineering.

 Eric Peterson is the founder of the REMADE Institute and leads the Recycling Node of the Institute, a National Network of Manufacturing Institute that is led by Rochester Institute of Technology. Until recently, Eric also led the Recycling and Reuse Focus Area for the Critical Materials Institute, an Energy Innovation Hub sponsored by Department of Energy and led by Ames National Laboratory. At Idaho National Laboratory, Eric Leads the Process Science and Technology Business Area. His research has varied from the most fundamental understanding of molecular interactions to construction and proving of pilot facilities using the materials that he has been active in developing.  He enjoys numerous collaborative research arrangements with scientists from all parts of the US as well as Europe and Asia. Dr. Peterson received undergraduate education in chemistry and biology at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, his Ph.D. from Montana State University in Bozeman, MT, and did postdoctoral training in polymers at University of Missouri-Rolla (1.5 years), and solid phase inorganic chemistry at the Ames Laboratory, Ames, IA (1.5 years).  Eric has authored/coauthored 92 peer reviewed archival articles, 26 peer reviewed DOE reports, 2 book chapters, 4 classified reports, and has authored/coauthored 14 issued US Patents with 5 patents pending.  His awards include two INL Lifetime Achievement Awards presented in December, 2008 and March, 2003, the DOE Bright Light Award for The Best invention over the past 20 years at a DOE Lab in March of 2000, and the DOE Energy 2000 Award given in April 2000 for the Top Innovation for the year at a DOE Facility.  During FY 2006 Eric served at the National Science Foundation in the Directorate of Engineering’s Chemical Transport Systems Division running the nationally visible Separation Processes and Purification Program as a Visiting Scientist Engineer/Educator (VSEE). Since his return to the Laboratory Eric has established and grown the Laboratory’s Process Science and Technology Business Area and throughout his career has won more than a billion dollars in competitively awarded funding.