The University of Chicago is set to host an event on October 30, focusing on climate and energy policy. The gathering will feature scholars and leaders from various sectors and mark the launch of a new climate and energy institute at UChicago.
The institute aims to tackle climate change while supporting sustainable growth. It will bring together scholars and students across disciplines to advance research in this critical field.
“Climate Frontiers: Energy and Climate at UChicago” will take place at the David Rubenstein Forum. President Paul Alivisatos, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, and Professor Michael Greenstone, the founding faculty director of the institute, are scheduled to speak.
“If there’s one thing we need in this world right now, it’s people who can really understand the problems of climate and energy from different perspectives,” Alivisatos said in a promotional video for the event. “I feel the University of Chicago is a very special place and has a great deal to contribute to the problems of climate change—and climate and energy.”
The first panel discussion will include Greenstone and John Podesta, White House Senior Adviser for International Climate Policy. Heidi Heitkamp, Director of the Institute of Politics, will moderate their conversation on U.S. and global climate policy.
A second discussion will address energy storage and clean technology with contributions from UChicago Professor Shirley Meng, former Department of Energy Undersecretary Paul Dabbar, and Exelon CEO Calvin Butler.
The final discussion will focus on climate systems engineering with Professor David Keith leading a panel that includes Nat Keohane from the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, Hina Rabbani Khar from Pakistan's National Assembly, moderated by Amy Harder from Breakthrough Energy’s Cipher news.
The event will also feature a showcase on climate research programs at UChicago along with student-led initiatives. A career fair will provide students insights into various career paths related to climate studies.
For further details or registration information, visit climatefrontiers.event.uchicago.edu.