Fort Collins Showcased at Smithsonian for Energy Innovation

Founder of the Engines and Energy Conversion Lab and professor of engineering, Dr. Bryan Willson, was recently honored, with 5 others, by the Smithsonian Institution for leadership in the field of clean energy in Fort Collins, Colorado, putting Fort Collins on the map as one of America’s newest places of innovation.

Representatives from CSU and the City of Fort Collins attended a pre-opening event at the Places of Innovation exhibit at the Lemelson Center at the National Museum of American History. (Left to right): Robert Haw, Diane Jones, Graeme Troxell, Ed Van Dyne, Gesine Cherian, Jean Troxell, Sunil Cherian, Wade Troxell, Tom Milligan, Judy Dorsey, Dan Epstein, Julie Zinn, Bryan Willson, Darin Atteberry. Photo courtesy of Smithsonia.
Representatives from CSU and the City of Fort Collins attended a pre-opening event at the Places of Innovation exhibit at the Lemelson Center at the National Museum of American History. (Left to right): Robert Haw, Diane Jones, Graeme Troxell, Ed Van Dyne, Gesine Cherian, Jean Troxell, Sunil Cherian, Wade Troxell, Tom Milligan, Judy Dorsey, Dan Epstein, Julie Zinn, Bryan Willson, Darin Atteberry. Photo courtesy of Smithsonian.

The group’s tremendous work in tackling environmental issues and creating clean and sustainable energy alternatives is being featured in the “Places of Invention” exhibition at the Lemelson Center at the National Museum of American History in Washington D.C.

Colorado State University plays a large role in the community’s innovative culture, and all of the 6 individuals whose work is being featured, have strong ties to CSU. The honorees and City of Fort Collins supporters, including our very own engineering professor, Mayor Wade Troxell, gathered for a pre-opening event at the museum in July 2015.

Along with Fort Collins, The Smithsonian selected 6 other American communities to highlight; Hartford, Conn., Minnesota’s Medical Alley, Hollywood, The Bronx, and Silicon Valley as places of innovation.

The purpose of the exhibition is to showcase the power of people collaborating for the good of their community and the world. The strength of these individuals to take risks, think outside the box, fail and persevere, and truly make a difference is an inspiration.

Fort Collins is facing environmental issues head on, representing clean energy development in the 21st century. The City, CSU, and the Northern Colorado business community will continue to collaborate and support local innovations with global impact.

The Places of Invention exhibition will be open to the public through at least 2020.

For more information, visit: http://invention.si.edu/places-invention-exhibition-overview.