Georgia
Georgia Southern engineering professor one of 10 honored with DOE EnergyTech University Prize Faculty Explorers Award | Newsroom
Sevki Cesmeci, Ph.D., was recently honored with the EnergyTech University Prize Faculty Explorers Award from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Technology Transitions. An associate professor of mechanical engineering in the Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing at Georgia Southern University, Cesmeci was one of only 10 individuals across the United States to earn the award.
“My students encouraged me to participate,” Cesmeci said. “The main focus for this award is teaching, so I explained my background in this field and translated how my experience and my students’ successes would make me an ideal fit for this opportunity to increase emphasis on energy innovation at Georgia Southern.”
The Faculty Explorers Award comes with a $5,000 prize and honors faculty members who bridge the gap between technical expertise and practical applications of energy engineering through innovation and commercialization. For Cesmeci, this achievement aligns with his drive to empower the next generation of engineers and technology developers.
“This recognition is especially meaningful to me as it represents the intersection of my passions for teaching and research,” Cesmeci said. “Over the years, I have integrated student training into my research, which has led to numerous student successes and awards.”
Since joining Georgia Southern in fall 2019, Cesmeci has worked to establish himself as a transformative educator and researcher. His teaching philosophy emphasizes preparation, student engagement, innovative teaching methodologies, real-life application and continuous self-improvement – leaving a lasting impact on his students.
“I am passionate about what I do and will continue in this direction regardless of awards, but this recognition is another confirmation and validation that my work here is important,” Cesmeci said. “While I’m proud to have been honored, I think that this award is equally important for representing Georgia Southern on a national stage.”
Cesmeci has previously been recognized for research excellence at Georgia Southern with the 2023-2024 Georgia Southern University Award of Excellence in Faculty Discovery and Innovation and the 2022-2023 Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing Faculty Award for Scholarship.
In his research, Cesmeci focuses on high-risk, high-reward technologies in the energy and healthcare industries. As a sole principal investigator, he has contributed to projects with funding exceeding $1.7 million from organizations including the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Air Force and diabetes research and advocacy organization Breakthrough T1D.
“I am deeply grateful to the DOE and all of our funders for their support and for encouraging the cultivation of the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers,” Cesmeci said.
As temperatures rise across Georgia, cooling costs are also expected to climb this summer. The Georgia Public Service Commission is set to hear one of Georgia Power’s proposed agreements aimed at saving customers money on their power bills.
Georgia Power says its proposed agreements could save the typical customer about $4 a month if approved by the commission.
The proposals involve two separate cases before the PSC. One focuses on fuel costs used to operate power plants, while the second deals with storm recovery costs tied to Hurricane Helene.
Georgia Power and the PSC’s Public Interest Advocacy Staff recently reached agreements in both cases. If approved, the company says the typical residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours per month could save about $4.04 per month or nearly $50 per year beginning in June.
The proposal comes as a new national report from the National Energy Assistance Directors Association and the Center for Energy Poverty and Climate projects cooling costs could rise about 8.5% nationwide this year. The report says hotter temperatures and increased energy demand are helping drive costs higher.
Reliable Heating and Air said it is already seeing an increase in service calls across metro Atlanta as more people start using their air conditioning systems.
HVAC experts said homeowners should watch for warning signs, including strange noises, weak airflow, homes cooling slowly or higher-than-normal power bills.
“Biggest mistake they make is not getting a system maintenance,” said Joshua Kelly with Reliable Heating and Air. “A lot of people feel like, ‘Oh no, I don’t have to get maintenance,’ but you most definitely do.”
Experts recommend changing air filters regularly, scheduling maintenance checks, keeping thermostats between 74 and 77 degrees on hot days and addressing airflow problems early.
Resources for Georgia families needing help with cooling costs:
- Georgia LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) — Helps eligible low-income households pay heating and cooling bills and may assist during energy emergencies.
- United Way 211 — Connects families with local resources, including utility assistance programs, emergency financial help and community services.
- Partnership for Community Action — Offers utility assistance, energy support programs and other services for eligible families in metro Atlanta.
- Local Community Action Agencies — Many agencies across Georgia provide emergency utility assistance, payment support and additional family resources during extreme heat and high energy demand periods.
ATLANTA – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Emory University Hospital are monitoring two Georgia residents following a hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship that resulted in three deaths.
Atlanta hospital monitoring
What we know:
A couple returned to Georgia last week and was moved Monday to Emory University Hospital for specialized monitoring. One of the passengers showed mild symptoms of the virus but has since tested negative. Both individuals were passengers on the MV Hondius, a ship where the Andes variant of hantavirus was identified.
The CDC confirmed the patients are being kept in a biocontainment unit designed for highly infectious diseases. Doctors at Emory said one individual is receiving treatment while the other is being monitored, though they emphasize there is no risk to the general public.
Monitoring and travel status
What we don’t know:
Health officials have not confirmed if the passengers will be cleared to leave the hospital or return home before a 42-day period is over. While one test was negative, authorities have not said how many additional tests or how much more observation time is needed before the couple is fully cleared. The exact names and ages of the Georgia residents have not been released due to privacy concerns.
Cruise ship outbreak
The backstory:
The outbreak began in April on the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius during a voyage from Argentina. Nine cases have been confirmed and three people died after the virus spread, likely through human-to-human transmission of the Andes strain. This specific strain is known for causing Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, a severe respiratory illness.
Low public risk
Big picture view:
While the Andes variant is serious, the CDC and World Health Organization assess the risk to the general public as low. The virus typically spreads through close contact with bodily fluids or respiration rather than everyday social contact. Federal and state health departments are using established protocols to manage the repatriation and monitoring of the 18 Americans who were on the ship.
The Source: Information for this story was gathered from FOX 5 reporter Kevyn Stewart, who attended a news conference with the CDC and Emory University Hospital, as well as official statements from the Georgia Department of Public Health and the World Health Organization.
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