October 2014, Vol. 241, No. 10

Features

The Energy University: UHs Ambitious Plan to Wed Industry, Education, Research

There’s no question why the University of Houston keeps a close eye on the energy business. “Energy is 50% of the economy in the greater Houston area,” said Ramanan Krishnamoorti, chief energy officer for the school. Energy companies provide grants, hold seats on boards, employ graduates and cooperate with researchers. Many of those companies host large research organizations in their own right. “Entry-level positions [in energy fields] can earn twice as much as almost any other major,” Krishnamoorti said. “Manufacturing may have traveled elsewhere, but the unique expertise in this discipline is still something the U.S. has maintained.”