Penn is holding its fifth Energy Week from Feb. 10-14, with a lineup of daily events for faculty, staff, and students to engage in the latest solutions-focused work happening at Penn and in government and industry.
“We are in a moment with a lot of shifting energy and climate policy at both the federal and the state level. This presents a real opportunity for places like Penn to provide research, education, and community around good, sound policy outcomes,” says Cory Colijn, executive director of the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy, which is co-hosting Energy Week with the Vagelos Institute for Energy Science and Technology (VIEST). “We anticipate there being an increased amount of appetite for bipartisan solution-making, and we feel like Penn can be a real platform to advance those conversations.”
“We need opportunities to recognize the good work that we’re doing, to celebrate what everyone on campus is doing every day to try to bring us to energy solutions that get us to the sustainable future that we really need,” says Nadine Gruhn, managing director of VIEST.
“Like our fall Climate Week, Energy Week is one of the great opportunities we have at Penn to showcase the important work we are doing in the energy/climate/sustainability arena,” says Michael Mann, vice provost for climate science, policy, and action. “It offers us an opportunity to engage in a larger conversation with our students, faculty, staff, and community about what we’re doing to address the great challenges we face today.”
Mann gave insights into an event he will participate in on Feb. 13: “Conservative and Concerned About Climate Change? You’re Not Alone,” with Bob Inglis, the executive director of republicEn.org. “I’m thankful to be part of a conversation with my friend Bob Inglis, a leading conservative voice on climate, about what we can do to encourage collaboration across the partisan divide on matters of climate and environmental sustainability,” says Mann. “I hope it’s a model for the sort of progress we can make in the years ahead.”
The full schedule can be viewed at energyweek.upenn.edu. Events include:
Feb. 10-14, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Kleinman Center (Fisher Fine Arts Building)—An E-Waste Drive gives people the opportunity to responsibly recycle electronics, such as old cell phones and accessories, laptops and keyboards, and batteries.
Monday, Feb. 10, 12-1:30 p.m., Kleinman Center Energy Forum (Fisher Fine Arts Building)—In the Energy Week Lightning Talks, students will present TED-style talks on energy-related research for an audience and panel of judges.
Monday, Feb. 10, 3-4 p.m., Wu & Chen Auditorium (Levine Hall)—This year’s Joseph Bordogna Forum is a discussion about creating lasting impact at the interface of energy, technology, and society, featuring David Turk, former deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy, and Vanessa Chan, formerly of DOE and now Penn Engineering’s inaugural vice dean of innovation and entrepreneurship.
Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2-3 p.m., Berger Auditorium (Skirkanich Hall)—In a panel moderated by Chan, three members of the Biden-Harris Administration will discuss their work catalyzing clean energy technology investments in the private sector. This includes Maria Robinson of the Grid Deployment Office, Jigar Shah of the Loan Programs Office, and Giulia Siccardo of the Office of Manufacturing Energy and Supply Chains.
Tuesday, Feb. 11 and Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2-3 p.m. both days, (Penn Museum)—A tour of the Penn Museum collection will focus on ancient climates and energy production, giving participants a chance to learn from people of the past.
Tuesday, Feb. 11, 5-6:30 p.m., Kleinman Center Energy Forum (Fisher Fine Arts Building)—Students interested in a career in the energy sector will benefit from an alumni panel featuring graduates of the School of Arts & Sciences, School of Engineering and Applied Science, and Wharton School. This includes Derek Wong of Excelerate Energy, Kelly-Ann Corrigan of Runwise, and Lolita K. Jackson of Sustainable Capital LLP.
Thursday, Feb. 13, 11 a.m.-12 p.m., Annenberg School for Communication, Room 300—As part of the Environmental Innovations Initiative’s Climate 101 series, Benjamin Lee of Penn Engineering will give a talk about climate change and artificial intelligence.
Thursday, Feb. 13, 12:30-1:30 p.m., Kleinman Center Energy Forum (Fisher Fine Arts Building)—Michael Mann will join Bob Inglis, the executive director of republicEn.org for a conversation called “Conservative and Concerned About Climate Change? You’re Not Alone.”
Thursday, Feb. 13, 4-5 p.m., Vagelos Laboratory for Energy Science and Technology, Room 121—Gregg Beckham, group leader and senior research fellow at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, will present the 3rd Vagelos Institute Lectureship in Energy Science and Technology, focusing on the U.S. Department of Energy-funded BOTTLE Consortium and its approach to plastics recycling and redesign. This and other events, such as a poster session and pitch showcase for graduate students, give people a chance to see Penn’s newest building.
Friday, Feb. 14, 12-4 p.m., Fisher Fine Arts Library—The Common Press hosts a hands-on studio where participants can print an energy-themed valentine or write an energy-related valentine to a local, state, or federal policymaker.
