Sarah Kurtz facts for kids

Sarah R. Kurtz is an American scientist who studies solar energy and how to make it better. She is known for her work on special solar cells called multi-junction solar cells, which are very good at turning sunlight into electricity. These cells are even used on robotic spacecraft! Dr. Kurtz used to be a lead scientist at a big research center called the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Today, she is a professor of materials science and engineering at the University of California, Merced.

Early Life and Education

Sarah R. Kurtz grew up in Defiance, Ohio. She went to public schools there. In 1979, she graduated from Manchester College, where she studied chemistry and physics. She then continued her studies at Harvard University, earning her Ph.D. in chemical physics in 1985. Her research at Harvard was about making very thin layers of materials, which are important for many technologies.

Career in Solar Energy

After finishing her Ph.D., Dr. Kurtz joined the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in 1985. NREL is a place where scientists work to find new ways to create clean energy. At NREL, she became a leading expert in photovoltaics, which is the science of turning light directly into electricity using solar cells.

Her most important work focused on multi-junction solar cells. These cells are like super-powered solar panels because they can capture more of the sun's energy than regular ones. This makes them very efficient, which is why they are useful for things like space missions where every bit of power counts.

In 2017, Dr. Kurtz moved to the University of California, Merced. There, she teaches and continues her research as a professor of materials science and engineering.

Awards and Recognition

Dr. Kurtz has received many important awards for her contributions to solar energy:

• In 2007, she and fellow NREL scientist Jerry Olson won the Dan David Prize. This award recognized their amazing work in making solar energy better and more useful.
• The IEEE Electron Devices Society gave her their William R. Cherry Award in 2012. This award honored her important research on multi-junction solar cells.
• In 2016, the US Clean Energy Education & Empowerment (C3E) Initiative gave her their Lifetime Achievement Award. This award celebrates people who have made a huge difference in clean energy throughout their careers.
• In 2020, Dr. Kurtz was chosen to be part of the National Academy of Engineering. This is a very high honor for engineers in the United States. She was recognized for her work on GaInP/GaAs photovoltaic cells and for her leadership in making solar cells reliable and high-quality. She was the first professor from UC Merced to be elected to this important academy.