Dr. Kenneth A. Walz

Email: kwalz[at] matcmadison [dot] edu

Phone: 608-843-0126

Office : Truax 335A, Madison Area Technical College

Education

B.S. – University of Wisconsin – Madison, 1995

M.S. – University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, 1999

Ph.D. – University of Wisconsin – Madison, 2006

Teaching Interests

Chemistry, Engineering, Renewable Energy

STEM Faculty Development 

As a former high school chemistry, physics, and biology instructor, I have broad interests in science and engineering education.  I believe that an appreciation of science and engineering is an important part to every student’s education.  Comprehension of basic scientific principles helps one to better understand many complex phenomena encountered in everyday life.  Furthermore, the critical thinking skills developed in learning science and engineering provide the foundation for a lifetime of informed analytical decision making.  I have had the pleasure to teach at Madison Area Technical College since 2003.   My current teaching assignment primarily involves first- and second-year chemistry and engineering courses.  In each of these classes I emphasize the relevance of the subject matter through demonstration of practical applications, hands-on laboratory activities, and real-world design projects.

I am pleased to serve as a project director and principal investigator for the Consortium for Education in Renewable Energy Technology.  The mission of CERET is to advance renewable energy technical education for high school and two-year college students.  Through my interactions with the University of Wisconsin Center for Integrating Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL) and the Wisconsin K-12 Energy Education Program (KEEP), I am invested in the advancement of STEM education and the development of future faculty members.  The strong partnership between Madison Area Technical College and the university community has afforded me the opportunity to work with a number of bright young teachers.  These activities have included projects on a variety of subjects including climate change, nuclear science, fuel cells, solar energy, wind energy, and biofuels.

Undergraduate Courses Taught

• General Chemistry
• Introduction to Engineering
• Introduction to Biodiesel Fuel                                  
• Renewable Energy for International Development 

Graduate Courses Taught  

• Teaching Methods for Science and Engineering
• Energy Education in the Classroom
• Environmental Engineering with Green Applications

Research Interests

Renewable Energy, Energy Storage,

Electrochemical Materials, Nanoscience

I have been interested in the subjects of alternative fuels and renewable energy since completing an independent research project on ethanol fuel for my high school chemistry class.  It was years later through a summer National Science Foundation appointment that I first explored scientific research in this area, learning about conductive polymers, photo-active materials, and organic light emitting diodes with the University of Rochester Center for Photo-induced Charge Transfer.

My graduate work focused on development of battery cathode materials, including research on iron (VI) ferrate compounds with Rayovac Inc., and lithium manganese oxide spinels with Argonne National Laboratory.  Through a series of investigations, battery performance was enhanced by coating cathode materials with nanoporous metal oxide thin films (e.g. TiO₂, ZrO₂, etc.), thereby modifying the solid electrolyte interface and improving high temperature cycle stability.

Since 2007, I have worked with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the Department of Energy Academies Creating Teacher Scientists Program.  I have had the opportunity to work with both the Renewable Fuel and Materials Science research centers at the laboratory in Golden, CO.  My current research involves electrodeposition of manganese oxide onto copper nanorod substrates, in an attempt to create high power anode materials for lithium-ion batteries.

Links to Related Web Pages

• Consortium for Education in Renewable Energy Technology
• Wisconsin K-12 Energy Education Program
• Delta Program for Integrating Research, Teaching, & Learning
• National Renewable Energy Lab
• Argonne National Lab

Selected Teaching Publications

A. Hoffman, S. Britton, K. Cadwell, and K.A. Walz.  "An integrated approach to introducing biofuels, flash point, and vapor pressure concepts into an introductory college chemistry lab."  Journal of Chemical Education, 88(2): 197-200 (2011).

S.C. Kerr and K.A. Walz.  “ 'Holes' in student understanding:  Addressing prevalent misconceptions regarding atmospheric environmental chemistry."  Journal of Chemical Education, 84(10): 1693-1697 (2007).

M.J. D’Amato, K.W. Lux, K.A. Walz, H.W. Kerby, and B. Anderegg.  "Introducing new learning tools for an old classroom:  A multi-tool approach to integrating fuel-cell concepts into the introductory college chemistry curriculum."  Journal of Chemical Education, 84(2): 248-252 (2006).

Selected Research Publications

K.A. Walz, C.J. Johnson, J. Genthe, L.C. Stoiber, W.A. Zeltner, M.A. Anderson and M.M. Thackeray.  "Elevated temperature cycling stability and electrochemical impedance of LiMn₂O₄ cathodes with nanoporous ZrO₂ and TiO₂ coatings."  Journal of Power Sources, 195(15): 4943-495 (2010).

K.A. Walz, C.J. Johnson, J.J. Szczech, L.C. Stoiber, A.N. Suyama, W.E. Suyama, W.A. Zeltner, and M.A. Anderson.   "Evaluation of SiO₂ and TiO₂ coated BaFeO₄ cathode materials for zinc alkaline and lithium non-aqueous primary batteries."  Journal of Power Sources, 167: 545-549 (2007).

K.A. Walz, J.J. Szczech, L.C. Stoiber, A.N. Suyama, W.E. Suyama, W.A. Zeltner, M.E. Armacanqui, and M.A. Anderson. "Stabilization of iron(VI) ferrate cathode materials using nanoporous silica coatings."  Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 153: A1102 (2006).

Other Activities

Mountain Biking, Nordic Skiing

Hiking, Camping, Sailing