Commendatory remarks, smiles, and even a few enthusiastic “high-fives” were shared on Feb. 16 as representatives from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the office of U.S. Representative Frank Mrvan visited Purdue University Northwest’s (PNW) Center for Innovation through Visualization and Simulation (CIVS) to observe research and impacts for federally-funded steel decarbonization initiatives.

In celebration of several recent multimillion dollar research grants from the DOE’s Office of Renewable Energy and Efficiency for CIVS, Geri Richmond, DOE Under Secretary for Science and Innovation, and Rep. Mrvan toured the CIVS space and listened to brief presentations emphasizing the far-reaching impacts CIVS projects serve for industrial innovation, decarbonization, digital transformation, workforce development and community and industry relations.

“I have read about the things CIVS and this institution are doing, and now I am even more impressed,” said Richmond. “My story to take home to the Department of Energy is that it should be proud, and I am very proud to see what you are doing. It is so cool how my brain can go right in the middle of a blast furnace when you are simulating hydrogen and to see what the energy flow would look like.

“If you do not do things like CIVS does to simulate what happens under different conditions, you have to go to the lab and try over and over again. What CIVS has developed is a simulation system, artificial intelligence and machine learning to simulate what can happen, as well as go back and validate the research. I have done a lot of simulations in my own research, but nothing to this level.” Richmond also commented on how CIVS is collaborating with steel industry partners in prototyping and leading in reducing energy use and greenhouse emissions.

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