Change is a challenging and necessary reality in the life cycle. It has four phases- -Establishment, Growth, Maturation, and Conclusion – each of which requires a response to the challenge of change. The one thing that the most enduring organizations or educational institutions have in common is their ability and willingness to change with the times. Thus, it is easy to appreciate that a successful organization is one that can adapt to changing circumstances.

Diversity and change have been hallmarks of the Hemispheric Center for Environmental Technology (HCET) since its establishment in 1995. Founded by the U.S. Department of Energy and Florida International University, HCET’s mission is to research, develop, and disseminate technologies and transfer knowledge for solving environmental, energy, and information problems throughout the Western Hemisphere and globally. HCET conducts research to create new knowledge and understanding of the challenging science and engineering problems facing our changing world and develops innovative solutions for them.

Environmental technology research and application remain the cornerstone of HCET. From its founding research in solid waste and nuclear facility decontamination and dismantlement technology, HCET has maintained a robust and expanding basic and applied environmental research capability. This incorporates a full suite of environmental science, engineering, and management services, including radioactive and hazardous waste treatment and processing, decontamination of surface and underground storage tanks, computer modeling, simulation and visualization, sensors, instrumentation, and robotics.

National and international demands, however, require new research efforts in energy, information and communications technology, in addition to pioneering efforts in the environment. The challenges of organizational investment, product development and delivery marketing, staffing, and strategic growth and diversification have been and continue to be “real time” considerations at HCET. The result of those challenges has been the expansion of HCET expertise and capabilities, both in the laboratory and in the field. HCET has added new areas to its portfolio in recognition of client needs and market direction.

ENERGY
The United States and its hemispheric neighbors understand that an energy crisis faces them, not only in terms of deteriorating supplies and distribution networks, but also in terms of the skyrocketing prices, economic impact, and damaging effects to the atmosphere and environment. HCET energy research initiatives focus on supporting the efficiency of energy-producing systems, developing diverse economical, clean energy technologies, and minimizing the environmental and atmospheric risk of energy technologies.

Despite national boundaries, we share the environment and atmosphere with our neighbors. Building on relationships already developed for environmental technologies, HCET advocates hemispheric collaboration on energy technology research and development (R&D) and transfer among the nations of North and Latin America and the Caribbean.

INFORMATION
Advanced scientific investigation, highresolution modeling, simulation and visualization, geospatial information systems, and multimedia interactive data and knowledge management systems are only a few of the areas in which HCET is developing data, information, and knowledge management systems. HCET’s super-computer and high-speed, high-bandwidth Internet-2 connections have added new dimensions to the Center’s capabilities to deliver advanced computing solutions for science, engineering, training, and business.

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