{"id":151674,"date":"2026-03-26T11:43:25","date_gmt":"2026-03-26T15:43:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/151674///news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/151674//www.ucf.edu/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/151674//news/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/151674//?p=151674"},"modified":"2026-03-26T11:43:25","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T15:43:25","slug":"zhihua-qu-earns-ucfs-2026-medal-of-societal-impact-for-contributions-to-the-power-systems-industry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/151674///news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/151674//www.ucf.edu/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/151674//news/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/151674//zhihua-qu-earns-ucfs-2026-medal-of-societal-impact-for-contributions-to-the-power-systems-industry/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/151674//","title":{"rendered":"Zhihua Qu Earns UCF/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/151674/u2019s 2026 Medal of Societal Impact for Contributions to the Power Systems Industry"},"content":{"rendered":"
Few researchers have recharged and revitalized the electric power industry as Pegasus Professor Zhihua Qu has. Through his efforts, the energy systems that power our everyday lives are smarter, cleaner and more resilient./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/151674/n
In recognition of his influence, UCF will award Qu with the Medal of Societal Impact. This honor is bestowed upon faculty whose research in science, engineering or medicine has significantly impacted humankind. Recipients are selected by an external committee of members of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. Qu will receive the award during the Founders/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/151674/u2019 Day event on April 1./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/151674/n
/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/151674/u201c This award represents what we should be doing as researchers /news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/151674/u2014 contributing to society, teaching younger engineers and making an impact through research./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/151674/u201d/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/151674/n
/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/151674/u201cI feel very honored,/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/151674/u201d Qu says. /news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/151674/u201cI appreciate the recognition. This award represents what we should be doing as researchers /news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/151674/u2014 contributing to society, teaching younger engineers and making an impact through research./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/151674/u201d/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/151674/n
Qu/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/151674/u2019s research spans the areas of power system stability, self-organizing microgrids and advanced control of distributed energy resources. His goal is to make power systems more efficient, reliable and secure. In 2017, he partnered with the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) to create a plug-and-play grid platform that controls large distributed energy networks and enables utilities to add new components like EV stations and solar farms without the need for a power grid redesign. He also led a DoE team that developed smart inverters to stabilize power grids that run on renewable energy./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/151674/n
His most recent research has focused on making power infrastructure resilient against cybersecurity attacks and extreme weather events. Looking ahead, Qu plans to address the challenges posed by artificial intelligence (AI) data centers and the large amounts of energy they consume. He says that using his expertise to solve societal problems is a duty, and one that all research faculty should fulfill./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/151674/n
/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/151674/u201cAs engineers, as research faculty, as instructors of students, we have the obligation to solve real-world problems,/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/151674/u201d Qu says. /news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/151674/u201cThrough our research, we can improve people/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/151674/u2019s lives and enhance economic competitiveness./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/151674/u201d/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/151674/n