April 30, 2026 | 12PM-1PM | EEI Conference Room and Zoom
Join us Thursday, April 30 at EEI for our weekly Energy Bites lunch seminar, featuring two presentations on emerging research and innovation opportunities across the energy and entrepreneurship space.
Soil Carbon and Ecosystem Impacts in Solar Landscapes
Noah Krasner
Large solar farms are expanding quickly to meet climate goals, but their impacts on ecosystems, and especially soils, are still not well understood. The study presented here examines whether restoring native grasslands within the UC Davis Experimental Ecovoltaic Park can improve soil carbon storage and other ecosystem services.
The work measures soil health across restoration treatments, shaded and open conditions, and multiple depths. It explores whether early soil carbon gains may occur following disturbance and highlights practical, low-cost methods to monitor soil health in solar projects.
Noah Krasner is a PhD candidate in the Energy Graduate Group. His research focuses on ecovoltaics, soil carbon sequestration, and native grassland restoration, with broader work in solar energy, environmental design, and sustainability science.
From Research to Impact: NSF I-Corps at UC Davis
Belen Flores
The NSF I-Corps program is an immersive training program that helps researchers move innovations beyond the lab toward real-world impact. The program prepares scientists and engineers to translate research into applications that can generate economic and societal benefits.
This talk will provide an overview of the I-Corps program and opportunities for UC Davis researchers, including upcoming cohort offerings. It will introduce how the program supports customer discovery, technology translation, and the path from invention to commercialization.
Belen Flores is Program Manager for the NSF I-Corps regional short course at UC Davis. She leads outreach, recruitment, and program delivery, supporting researchers, students, and community members as they explore innovation and commercialization pathways.
Lunch will be provided for in-person attendees. Please register in advance so we have an accurate headcount.
We look forward to seeing you!