Typically, engineers and scientists fail to engage in the policy-making process, the consequence of which is an incoherent mix of national energy policies that accidentally undermine each other, fail to achieve strategic aims, or are impossible from the outset. The Webber Energy Group at the University of Texas at Austin is seeking to rectify this problem by bridging the divide between policymakers and engineers & scientists for issues related to energy and the environment. For our research, we apply our technical skills to analyze the societal context of our research problems. We bring the scientific method and technical expertise to bear on policy-oriented research questions as a way to inform decision-makers and help get the world onto a better energy path.
Register to attend the
Research Symposium 2024
Register to AttendResearch Symposium 2024
January 4-5, 2024
AT&T Center, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
AT&T Center, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
| Thursday, January 4, 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1:00–1:45 | Michael E. Webber | Welcome, Introduction, Global Energy Trends and Group Overview |
| 1:45–2:00 | Dr. Yael Glazer | Expanding our circle of influence: understanding circularity and life cycle assessments |
| 2:00–2:30 | Dr. Yael Glazer | What goes around comes around: Environmental Tradeoffs of 3D Printing with Waste Plastics |
| 2:30–3:00 | Sarah Reynolds | Pathways for a Circular Economy in Oil and Gas |
| 3:00–3:15 | Break | |
| 3:15–3:30 | Dr. Emily Beagle | So what’s all the HUBbub about hydrogen? |
| 3:45–4:00 | Lea Daniel | Analyzing a hydrogen corridor from Houston to Los Angeles |
| 4:00–4:30 | Esther Goita | Are Hydrogen Fugitive Emissions Truly A Problem? |
| 4:30–4:45 | Dr. Emily Beagle | Why Hydrogen is Good for Texas and Texas is Good for Hydrogen |
| 4:45–5:00 | Dr. Emily Beagle | Hydrogen and the Food-Energy-Water Nexus |
| 5:00–5:15 | Break | |
| 5:15–5:30 | Isabella Peterson | Advancing energy efficiency through statewide conservation policy in Texas |
| 5:30–6:00 | Dr. Joshua Rhodes | The Impact of the Texas 2023 Legislative Session on the ERCOT Grid |
| 6:00–6:45 | Reception (and group photo) | |
| 6:45–8:15 | Dinner | |
| Friday, January 5, 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 8:30–9:00 | Nick Laws | Valuing Distributed Energy Resources for Non Wires Alternatives |
| 9:00–9:30 | Matthew Skiles | Assessing the potential for building retrofits to mitigate ERCOT load shed during Winter Storm Uri |
| 9:30–10:00 | Drew Kassel | Connecting Texas to a National Grid and Preventing Winter Storm Blackouts |
| 10:00–10:15 | Break | |
| 10:15–10:45 | Braden Pecora | Does weather year matter for grid modeling? |
| 10:45–11:00 | Melina Katsiroumba | Equity and the ERCOT Power System: Considering Environmental Externalities |
| 11:00–11:30 | Joshua Rhodes | The impact of renewables on Texas: The 2023 Heat Dome and Beyond |
| 11:30–12:00 | Michael Webber | Improving Global Energy Literacy |
| 12:00–1:00 | Lunch | |
| 1:00 | Adjourn | |
Thank you for your support with investments of money, expertise, and time. This symposium is our way of saying thank you. Your support gives us the ability to perform research that stands the test of time and the resources we need to convey that research to policymakers and the general public. We couldn’t do it without you.