Angus Rockett is a professor of Materials Science and Engineering in the College of Engineering. He came to Illinois in 1980 as a graduate student and graduated with his Ph.D. in 1986. He has 26 years of experience with research in renewable energy — photovoltaics in particular. In addition to teaching and research, Angus serves the campus and community through his involvement in several professional societies and campus committees.
Angus feels that the need for sustainability is immediate. “If we are not sustainable sooner or later we will fail to sustain our lifestyle,” he says. His concern for renewable energy and campus sustainability prompted him to join the Energy Generation, Purchasing, and Distribution SWATeam.
So far, he has learned that campus moves slowly. In any university of this magnitude, change does not happen overnight. Cost of the necessary upgrades and new installments is the obvious challenge to his team, but that is why Angus also considers any progress made the most rewarding part of being on the team.
He points to strong faculty and staff and generous alumni as the strengths that will overcome the big challenges to increasing sustainability. His says his goal is simply to move Illinois toward a sustainable campus, and his greatest hope is that it actually happens.