JUNE 16-21, 2013 • TAMPA, FLORIDA
19
Jürgen
Schmid
was
one of the pioneers and
leading experts in the field
of renewable energy. He
led Fraunhofer IWES for
14
years before stepping
down in the fall of 2012. In
1995
he was appointed to
the professorship Efficient
Energy Conversion at the
University of Kassel. He became a member of the Board
and CEO in 1998 of the former Institute for Solar Energy
Supply Technology ISET and since the establishment
of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft in 2009 Director of the
IWES in Kassel in 1996. In addition, he advised 2004-
2013
as a member of the Scientific Advisory Council on
Global Change (WBGU), the Federal Government and
engaged in a nationwide Renewable Energy Research
Association (FVEE) and numerous international bodies
and initiatives. For his “outstanding contribution in the
cultural and scientific life of Hesse”, the Hessian Minister
of Science and Arts, Jürgen Schmid 2012, the Goethe
Plaque awarded the highest award of the Hessian Ministry
of Science. The Fraunhofer Board awarded him in 2012
the highest award of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, the
Fraunhofer Medal from.
Byron Stafford
joined SERI in
1984
with a master’s degree in
Math and Physics from Northern
Illinois University. He was
passionate about photovoltaics
and especially enjoyed helping
people understand and install
solar systems all over the world
–
from Aurora to Alcatraz to Borneo. Most recently, he
was setting up the infrastructure for the solar regional test
center in Aurora.
Byron was a leader in the success of the Solar Decathlon.
Beginning in 2000, he took on the role of Site Operations
Manager and fulfilled this role in every biennial
competition. He contributed to the original formulation
of the competition rules and was responsible for the safe
assembly and disassembly of the 20 student-developed
houses, and the entire supporting infrastructure, from
water supply to an electrical microgrid. His commitment to
the Solar Decathlon project and its safety helped an entire
generation of university students understand the interplay
of energy efficiency and renewable energy features in
buildings.
IN MEMORIUM
