2024

President’s Distinguished Lecture

President's Distinguished Lecture Logo

The President’s Distinguished Lecture Series invites notable leaders of world-renowned research organizations, universities and other industries to share their expertise with the University of Missouri community. The topics and guests will span various disciplines with each lecturer leading a discussion about the grand challenges facing society — and how Mizzou is poised to address them through our mission of teaching, research and outreach.

Dr. Harriet Kung

Dr. Harriet Kung, Acting Director of the Office of Science, U.S. Department of Energy was the speaker for the 2nd annual President’s Distinguished lecture series. Her lecture, titled “Science for Energy,” discussed the 21st century’s staggering challenges for more advanced energy technologies that are abundant, clean, and sustainable. Transforming the ways we generate, supply, transmit, store, and use energy is seen as the paramount opportunity for the world in the coming decades. The talk provided an overview of DOE’s Office of Science, which has a mission of delivering scientific discoveries and major scientific tools to transform our understanding of nature and advance the energy, economic, and national security of the United States. The talk also covered a key aspect of the U.S. Department of Energy portfolio in critical and emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), quantum, and microelectronics. 

Dr. Kung toured the MU Research Reactor, and you can watch her presentation below.