The University of South Carolina will begin its Fall Citizen's School of Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Technology at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 17 in Room 2A31 of the Swearingen Engineering Center on South Main Street at Catawba.

The school's sessions for adults will meet for seven consecutive Monday evenings through Oct. 29. All sessions will meet in the Swearingen Center. The cost of the entire seven-week program is $30.

Hydrogen is a form of fuel that will play an important role in the United States' energy future because it minimizes the kind of pollution now experienced with fossil fuels. Fuel cells are devices that use a chemical reaction to derive electricity from hydrogen.

The University of South Carolina is a national leader in fuel cell and hydrogen technology. Its Cooperative Research Center for Fuel Cells is the first such center established by the National Science Foundation. The center has attracted numerous business partners who want to play a role in the hydrogen economy.

The school is a consumer-friendly outreach program in which Carolina faulty and other experts introduce fuel cell and hydrogen technology to non-experts. It features a series of background readings, presentations, and two-way discussions. Participants will receive a package of readable articles to accompany each session.

Participants do not need to have expertise in science or engineering to attend the school, which is designed for people who are curious about the topic and want a general introduction.

To enroll or for more information, contact Chris Toumey by phone at 7-2221 or e-mail Toumey@sc.edu.

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