U.S.-Pakistan Centers for Advanced Studies in Energy Quarterly Progress Report July 1-September 30, 2018

Governance was a key focus area, with ASU participating in the 7th Committee on Research Policy meeting held at NUST on July 4, 2018. The meeting resulted in the approval of three-month extensions for two joint research projects and the conditional approval of a change in the Co-PI for one of the projects. ASU also participated in the discussion held during HEC's visit to NUST on the topic of "UK-Pakistan Knowledge Gateway," sharing its exchange experience and ideas for the new initiative. HEC expressed its interest in keeping ASU engaged in future discussions. A Council of Research and Policy (CRP) meeting was held on August 13, 2018 at UET-P, where 11 local applied research projects and one joint research project with ASU were approved. The Energy Poverty Workshop, conducted by Dr. Clark Miller on July 11, 2018, was attended by 64 participants from NUST, UET-P, and civil society organizations involved in energy poverty initiatives. Dr. Miller shared his extensive research on the energy-poverty nexus and a framework that emphasizes a compound measurement of the quality and quantity of energy provision and the social value of energy tool. Curriculum reform was another key area of focus, with ASU faculty reviewing three new Electrical Engineering PhD courses at NUST and assisting UET-P in developing the curriculum for the MS Thermal System Engineering program and reviewing the MS Energy Management and Sustainability program. ASU also continued its support to UET-P in developing a new graduate stream, MS Hydro Power Engineering. The USPCASE program also made significant progress in applied research, with ASU faculty reviewing 20 local applied research projects and providing feedback to UET-P. Out of these, 11 projects were approved at a CRP meeting, and one new joint research project with UET-P was awarded in Phase 3. ASU technical advisors conducted a quarterly review of 6 out of 11 ongoing research projects and provided feedback. The exchange program was also active, with one PhD student completing her 32-week exchange visit program in August. 37 exchange visitors, including 8 female visitors, are participating in the fall 2018 exchange program. ASU initiated the onboarding process for the spring 2019 cohort in this quarter. A three-day workshop on Hydro Power was led by Dr. Kendra Sharp, an OSU faculty member, and a virtual seminar on Thermal Energy was organized by Dr. T.W. Lee, an ASU faculty member. Sustainability was another key area of focus, with ASU facilitating a Think Tank Dialogue led by Dr. Clark Miller. It was attended by representatives from USAID, industry, government, academia, donors, and civil society as well as NUST and UET-P faculty. ASU also facilitated four industrial visits for USPCASE students and faculty. ASU supported partner universities in securing funding from HEC Technology Development Fund amounting $150,000. ASU drafted and arranged an MoU between UET-P and National Electric Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), which was signed on August 15. ASU secured 18 internships for USPCASE students in Pakistani organizations. Implementation progress was made in various areas, including committee meetings, research projects, programs reviewed, exchange visitors, industrial visits, events organized, and internships. ASU staff and faculty visits and key tasks completed during this quarter included reviewing Energy Modeling Joint Research Projects, reviewing UET MS in Energy Sustainability and Management courses and curriculum, and conducting a session on Energy Poverty for USPCASE faculty and students. The next review is scheduled for November 13, 2018, and ASU will work closely with its partners to complete the action items agreed upon during the review.