Dr. Philip Whitefield

Missouri University of Science and Technology’s newest research center, the Center for Research in Energy and Environment, was established effective Jan. 1. The center will address energy and environmental research under the direction of Dr. Philip Whitefield, chair and professor of chemistry at Missouri S&T.

The newly created center combines two existing research centers at Missouri S&T into one. The Energy Research and Development Center and the Environmental Research Center will no longer be stand-alone groups.

“This new center will enable greater collaborative research while maintaining Missouri S&T’s dedication to focusing on these two topics,” says Dr. Mariesa Crow, vice provost for research at Missouri S&T. “Dr. Whitefield’s dedication, experience and expertise in environmental and energy research will ensure the center maintains its mission of solving major issues in these fields.”

The new Center for Research in Energy and Environment will serve as the university’s focal point for research and development activities related to energy technologies and energy security. The center will strengthen collaboration between Missouri S&T and other research centers in industry, national laboratories and other universities.

An expert in the particulate matter emissions of aircraft, Whitefield holds a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of London. He joined the Missouri S&T faculty in 1990. Whitefield is senior investigator in the Cloud and Aerosol Sciences Laboratory, and has served as chair of the chemistry department and director of the Center of Excellence for Aerospace Particulate Emissions Reduction Research during his time at Missouri S&T. His work has led to a global standard for aviation particulate matter emissions characterization.