2005 Fuel Cell Seminar
Messel Bursar Mahesh Shivhare reports from the Palm Springs event
 The Fuel Cell Seminar held in California in November 2005 was one of the principal fuel cell meetings in the world and had more than 2,300 participants and 175 exhibiting companies. The meeting lasted for four days and the theme was ‘Progress, Challenges and Markets’. Two plenary sessions were held and three technical sessions each on low temperature, high temperature and applications of fuel cells with over 200 posters on R&D efforts in various types of fuel cells.
In this seminar I had the opportunity to present my work on ‘Kinetic modelling of Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC)’ along with two other posters from Newcastle University in a poster session dedicated to the research and development of DMFC. Attending the seminar provided me with a platform to discuss my work in detail with other researchers, exhibitors and peers in the field of fuel cell modelling. Most discussions and contacts made were really useful and helped me in focussing on the real aspects and challenges of modelling. Through this seminar I was able to meet and discuss some of the vital facets of my work with the authors of scientific journals. Their guidance and discussion was of paramount importance towards my goal of obtaining a PhD.
Another reason for attending was to look for an appropriate simulation tool to demonstrate my modelling approach in fuel cells. I was pleased to see LabVIEW’s application and I am obliged to the exhibitors from National Instruments, MKS Instruments and Polyfuel Inc for demonstrating its use to me. The seminar provided a clear picture of the market, R&D and future approaches in fuel cell-powered vehicles. Honda, Nissan and General Motors exhibited their own vehicles and provided an opportunity for attendees to try them out in a Ride & Drive event. It was a thrilling experience to see the application of the fuel cell out of the lab into the real world! The experience gained from the attendance of this seminar has also boosted my confidence and helped me in planning my future work.
I stayed in Palm Springs for one more day after the seminar to see The Grand Canyon and Palm Springs local village festival. I also spent some time in Los Angeles , Hollywood and finally New York on my way back to Newcastle . I am grateful to SCI for granting me a Messel Bursary as a contribution towards my expenses.
Mahesh Shivhare
Newcastle University
UK
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