Profile

Photo:

Aggelos Zacharopoulos

Curriculum Vitae

  • Education:

    University of Patras in Greece (1988-1994), University of Ulster (1995-2001 )

  • Qualifications:

    BSc in Physics (1994), PhD (2001)

  • Work History:

    University of Ulster (Research fellow), Openwave (Software engineer), Liberty-IT (Software engineer)

  • Current Job:

    Research Fellow

  • Employer:

    University of Ulster

  • Favourite thing to do in science: My favourite thing to do in science is to use natural ways and sources to power our modern living. This means using the sunlight to generate electricity and heat without polluting the environment or making any noise. It also means designing intelligent buildings that are cheaper to run and better to live in than traditional ones. Beautiful buildings with smart windows, and solar panels on their walls.

  • My work

    I research and teach Renewable Energy and Energy in Buildings at the University of Ulster in Northern Ireland. In my work I am looking for smart ways to generate electricity and heat from the sunlight and also design intelligent buildings that are cheaper to run and better to live in than traditional ones.

  • Read more

    The first picture below shows the Solar Simulator in our laboratory. It is a big box with special lamps that produce light similar to sunlight. We use it to test solar panels and solar water heaters.

    The second picture below shows the wall of our laboratory covered with solar panels that generate free and clean electricity from the Sun.


  • My Typical Day

    Go on-line to check emails and communicate with students. Then meet with colleagues and sync-up on work. Then lecture, test in the lab, read about new ideas, think…

  • Read more

    This is the actor James Nesbitt (he is in the “Hobbit” movie!) looking at our solar simulator! Mr James Nesbitt is the Chancellor of the University of Ulster and he visited our laboratory on 6 November. He seemed very comfortable under the “limelight” 😉

  • What I'd do with the money

    Set up a solar panel demonstration kit for schools

  • Read more

    Solar panels (photovoltaics) generate free and clean electricity from the sunlight. I would like to use the prize money to put together a solar panel demosntration kit for schools. Using the demo kit I can visit high schools and explain the advantages of the solar panel technology to the students. A demo kit is basically a PV panel with an DC/AC inverter. The panel generates DC electricity from the sunlight. The DC electricity is then converted to AC by the inverter and is ready for use by any electrical device.

  • My Interview

    • How would you describe yourself in 3 words?

      Inventive, curious, philosophical

      Who is your favourite singer or band?

      U2, Scorpions

      What did you want to be after you left school?

      Be an athlete and go to the Olympics

      Were you ever in trouble at school?

      Yeah…. but its too long ago really ;)

      What's the best thing you've done as a scientist?

      Come up with a new idea for producing electricity from sunlight

      If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!

      More sun in Ireland, drive and formula 1 car and invent something as big as the internet

      Tell us a joke.

      Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad

    • Work photos:

      This is the actor James Nesbitt (he is in the “Hobbit” movie!) looking at our solar simulator! Mr James Nesbitt is the Chancellor of the University of Ulster and he visited our laboratory on 6 November. He seemed very comfortable under the “limelight” 😉

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

      This is myself and a colleague on a visit to the outdoor test facility at the University of Patras in Greece.

  • My profile link:
    https://hydrogenn12.imascientist.ie/profile/aggeloszacharopoulos/

My Answered Questions

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