This video was prepared by Dr. Keyue Smedley, Director of the UCI Power Electronics Laboratory, and her students at the University of California Irvine, using a grant from the PSMA Industry – Education Committee. Please feel free to share this video with educators in your community or to use it as part of your company’s community awareness programs. If your company is a PSMA member, you may contact the Association Office to receive a copy of the video.
The following was the proposal for the project:
Purpose:
Expand awareness of power electronics applications and technology in students, in particular, students in the kindergarten through undergraduate classes. To do this we propose creating a message that can be presented by a speaker, or viewed on a display from a PC.
Key points of message:
Explain what power electronics means
That power electronics is critical in all of our futures
Show some facts and projections of the use of power electronics in a typical family week. Where is it hidden?
Show some facts about the total power used in the world both on grid and off.
Show some facts about the percentage of total power processed through power electronics.
Show some facts about power usage in the future 50 years.
Project the number of scientists and engineers needed in the next 50 years to conceive the devices and provide power for them.
Explain how it is accomplished
Large view of Applications
Large types of processing
Show types of products (large to small)
Pick two applications and explain in block fashion
Show devices used
Explain the sciences needed to achieve these products
Map the path to being a contributing scientist in this critical need for our world.
Early studies - (Math, communication, basic sciences)
Mid Studies - (algebra, geometry, chemistry, physics)
Late studies - (Advanced Math, Electronics, Mechanical engineering, semiconductor physics)
Give encouragement in starting early through FUSA, or other local education programs.
Length and Style:
The presentation should reside on a CD that can be viewed on a pc. It should be self booting for the operating system chosen. We should have one for apple and one for windows.
The length should be no more than twenty minutes, maybe 15 minutes long.
If given by a speaker it should be without sound, but a narrative should be included for audience without a knowledgeable speaker.
The CD could be slides or video.
The intro should be no more than half of the time. Ideally the explanation and need forecast should be about 6 minutes, with the explanation of how it is done taking a similar 6 minutes, and the mapping taking 6 minutes. This would leave time for some questions if everyone is not asleep.
