Dr. Payman Dehghanian, associate professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and director of Smart Grid Technologies at GW’s Environmental and Energy Management Institute (EEMI), was honored as the U.S. runner-up for the 2023 APEC Science Prize for Innovation, Research & Education (ASPIRE). Recognized as one of the top three emerging talents nationwide, Dehghanian was awarded this distinction on January 11, 2024, during the U.S. ASPIRE Prize Public Forum and subsequent Policy Roundtable, both facilitated by the U.S. State Department.
Dehghanian's work focuses on pioneering strategies to improve the resilience and sustainability of the national electric power delivery infrastructure. He showcased the innovative research conducted at GW’s SmartGrid Laboratory in the public forum, aligning his presentation with the 2023 ASPIRE Prize theme, “Inclusive Science, Technology, and Innovation for a Resilient and Sustainable Environment.” Held in a closed-door setting, the roundtable discussion that followed the public form saw Dehghanian engaging with policymakers and representatives from key science agencies in the U.S., including NIST, USGS, OSTP, NOAA, NSF, NIH, Wiley and Elsevier, and many more. This platform allowed him to further discuss the significance of his research within the framework of U.S. domestic scientific initiatives and underscored the value of engaging with the APEC community to promote innovation and strengthen U.S. leadership in the area of ‘Inclusive Science, Technology, and Innovation for a Resilient and Sustainable Environment.’
ASPIRE is an annual award hosted by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Policy Partnership for Science, Technology, and Innovation (PPSTI) that recognizes young scientists who have demonstrated a commitment to excellence in scientific research and cross-border collaboration. The United States, through the State Department’s Office of Science and Technology Cooperation and in partnership with scientific publishers Wiley and Elsevier, conducts a national competition to choose its representative for this international accolade. The 2023 ASPIRE Prize theme emphasized the role of innovative research in advancing society.
“Being named a U.S. runner-up for the ASPIRE Prize fills me with an overwhelming sense of honor and humility. This recognition is not just a personal milestone; it represents the collective efforts and unwavering support of my colleagues, mentors, and students at GW and beyond. This recognition fuels my passion for research and education, reminding me of the powerful impact that dedicated individuals can have on global challenges. I am grateful for this recognition and am inspired to continue leading our journey at GW SmartGrid Laboratory with even greater determination and enthusiasm,” Dehghanian noted.