Several invited and organized talks in May convened segments of the battery safety research community and exemplify ways Sandia’s energy storage program is contributing to national energy storage research:
- Sandia’s Loraine Torres-Castro and Yuliya Preger organized a five-day symposium at the 2026 Electrochemical Society Spring Meeting, May 24-28, 2026, in Seattle, WA: “New Approaches and Advances in Electrochemical Energy Systems.” The Electrochemical Society is the premier professional organization for battery and energy storage research, and its biannual meetings represent the best opportunity to learn and share the latest in battery research. Sandia’s participation reinforces the OE energy storage program’s scientific leadership in professional societies.
- Sandia researcher Yuliya Preger was invited to a workshop, Battery End-of-Life Management, organized by Underwriters Labs (UL) Standards on May 20, 2026, in Evanston, IL. The workshop focused on identifying gaps and necessary clarifications in safety practices, standards, and regulations that could be addressed to enhance battery circularity. Approximately 30 external participants were invited, representing manufacturers, recyclers, energy storage companies, and federal managers working on critical minerals. The workshop aligns with DOE and DOD priorities on maintaining battery-related critical minerals in the U.S. Workshop attendees identified three gaps and there will be follow-up engagement led by UL in the coming months.
- Yuliya Preger was invited to serve a two-year term on the Electrochemical Society’s Publications Subcommittee. The Electrochemical Society is the leading professional organization for the electrochemistry and battery research community, and it publishes several peer-reviewed journals. In this role, she will help shape journal direction and publishing best practices and will participate in interviewing and selecting journal editors. The position reflects the Sandia energy storage program’s professional standing in research and scientific publishing.
This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Electricity (OE), Energy Storage Division.