Penn’s fifth annual Energy Week will take place from Feb. 10-14, featuring more than two dozen events centered around interdisciplinary climate and energy solutions.
Energy Week has been hosted at Penn since 2019, bringing together faculty and researchers from numerous fields to showcase innovation and spark discussion in energy science, sustainability, and policy. The week is co-sponsored by the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy and the Vagelos Institute for Energy Science and Technology.
“New partnerships” will set this year's events apart from previous years according to Executive Director for the Kleinman Center Cornelia Colijn. Such partnerships include the Penn Museum; the Penn Center for Science, Sustainability, and the Media; and the Penn Program on Regulation.
“We’re bringing in people who bring another perspective,” Colijn said. “If you’re going to be solution-oriented, you’re not going to get very far unless you bring in other kinds of stakeholders, so we really try to do that during this week.”
According to Coljin, there is no singular focus of Energy Week, and instead, the events are a time for people from all different disciplines to come together and collaborate. Though the week’s events will explore a broad range of topics, they all reflect a “renewed and stated interest” in energy solutions amid shifting federal policies.
On Feb. 11, an alumni panel titled “Careers in the Energy Sector” will take place at the Kleinman Center Energy Forum featuring advice for students from Penn alumni working in the energy sector.
“We’re bringing in alumni who … are doing incredible things and want to share that with the students,” Colijn said. “They are huge assets to us in the Penn community.”
On Feb. 11 and 12, the Penn Museum will host a tour “exploring climate and energy through time.” The tour will use the Museum's collection to highlight how humans have adapted to changing climates and implemented creative energy solutions over centuries.
On Feb. 13, a discussion between former United States representative Bob Inglis (R-S.C.) and Penn Vice Provost for Climate Science, Policy, and Action Michael Mann will highlight the importance of bipartisan climate solutions and the role of conservative leaders in furthering climate science and policy.
“Bringing conservative climate champions to campus is going to help us, again, with exposure … We can’t just look within the walls, we have to expose ourselves to other ideas,” Colijn said.
Penn students from all academic disciplines are encouraged to attend Energy Week events, according to Colijn.
“No matter what your academic interest is, you can find an event that is going to speak to that interest in service of an energy transition,” Colijn said. “We are desperate for our next generation to take the lead in designing these solutions that will ensure an efficient clean energy transition.”
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