AUSTIN, Texas – Energy experts from industry, academia, government and nonprofit groups are gathering on The University of Texas at Austin campus Monday, Feb. 4, to kick off UT Energy Week, an annual conference designed to explore some of the most pressing energy issues facing society.
The event provides a forum for UT energy researchers to share their insights on topical issues with prominent leaders representing a cross section of perspectives, said Varun Rai, director of the Energy Institute, a co-host of the event.
“This conference illustrates the breadth and depth of energy expertise and research excellence at UT Austin, while also providing a platform for the energy leaders of tomorrow,” Rai said.
UT Energy Week is organized by the Longhorn Energy Club (LEC) in collaboration with the Energy Institute and is supported by the KBH Center for Energy, Law & Business and the McCombs Energy Initiative, along with several schools and colleges conducting energy-related research across the UT campus.
The event is free for students, faculty members and staffers at UT Austin, but registration is required. Complimentary admission is available for credentialed news media. Use the comp code UTEW-18-press.
The conference, now in its fifth year, is held in the Etter-Harbin Alumni Center at 2110 San Jacinto Blvd., across the street from the Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium.
Matthew Haley, president of the LEC, said UT Energy Week gives students a rare opportunity to interact with leading experts representing a variety of viewpoints and perspectives.
“This is a terrific opportunity for students to learn from people who are tackling some of the important energy challenges facing our world,” Haley said, adding that the event also allows students to present their research in a poster competition.
Scott W. Tinker, director of UT’s Bureau of Economic Geology, will deliver a keynote address, “The Impact of Energy Poverty on the Global Energy Transition,” to kick off the conference at 1 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 4.
On Tuesday, Feb. 5, panels of experts will discuss the latest advances in sustainable building design, debate competing visions of how to achieve a decarbonized economy, and probe barriers to the mass adoption of electric vehicles.
On Wednesday, Feb. 6, conference participants will explore market design options for resource adequacy in Texas, discuss the future for large-scale energy storage, and assess prospects for renewable energy infrastructure investment in Africa.
On Friday, Feb. 8, the KBH Energy Center and McCombs Energy Initiative will host Permian 2025 Conference, a gathering of recognized industry leaders with faculty members and students from across the UT Austin campus. The focus of the conference will be the current and future opportunity represented by the Permian Basin, the current center of the unconventional global energy industry. Advance RSVP is required.
In addition, the Texas Journal of Oil, Gas, and Energy Law will host two days of continuing-education courses Thursday, Feb. 7 and Friday, Feb. 8.For more, read the full conference program or register.
