Wednesday, September 30, 2009
1110 Kim Building Lecture Hall
5:00pm - 6:15pm

RSVP to rtate1@umd.edu

Imagine this scene—it's 2007 and on the National Mall in Washington, DC, right in front of the Smithsonian Institute and other famous buildings, there's a shining village of 20 solar houses, each one built by a student team from MIT, Georgia Tech, Penn State, the University of Maryland and other great schools as part of the Department of Energy's Solar Decathlon competition.

Wall to Wall People

Day after day, judges visit each house to compare their architectural designs, energy systems, and other capabilities. But not only judges—the mall is packed with thousands of citizens who tour the houses and learn all about solar power and its potential for contributing to our energy needs. On some days, it's difficult to walk in the crowds.

Waiting In the Big Tent

When all 10 contests are completed, all the students and their faculty advisors gather in a big tent to hear the judges' decisions announced by a high ranking government official. As a University of Maryland team member, you're there, both exhausted from days of working and thrilled to see how your house will be judged. You're hoping for the best for your school but also happy to see the great work of the other schools, some of whose team members you've gotten to know, be recognized.

Second in the World, First in the U.S.

Then it's official—the University of Maryland has finished second only to the team from Germany, and first among all U.S. teams! On stage, you and your team mates hold your trophy high, knowing that you've performed well against the very best and contributed to the advancement of a new energy solution.

Step Forward

What we've just described is what really happened. If you want to join us for a new Solar Decathlon, to be completed in 2011, and invest your knowledge, energy and commitment for the University of Maryland team and the future of solar power, the time to step forward is NOW.

Join Us

Please come to 1110 Kim Building Lecture Hall next Wednesday from 5:00 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. to learn all about this exciting project. Our highly experienced and highly dedicated faculty advisors, Professors Amy Gardener (ARCH) and Kaye Brubaker (ENGR), will briefly discuss the 2007 competition and all you need to know to participate in the 2011 competition for which we now need to prepare.

Make a Difference

This will be one of the greatest opportunities you will have as a student to test yourself, demonstrate what our school can do, and make a difference in the world. Don't miss it. You will tell your children about this one day in the future.

Dean Garth Rockcastle
School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation

Dean Darryll Pines
A. James Clark School of Engineering