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 2025

Registration closes December 20, 2024. Seating is limited.

Register to Attend
January 15–16, 2025
AT&T Center, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
Thursday, January 15, 2025
1:00–1:45Dr. Michael E. Webber
Welcome, Introduction, Global Energy Trends and Group Overview
1:45–2:00Dr. Yael Glazer
Expanding our circle of influence: understanding circularity and life cycle assessments
2:00–2:30Dr. Yael Glazer
What goes around comes around: Environmental Tradeoffs of 3D Printing with Waste Plastics
2:30–3:00Sarah Reynolds
Pathways for a Circular Economy in Oil and Gas
3:00–3:15Break
3:15–3:45Dr. Emily Beagle
So what’s all the HUBbub about hydrogen?
3:45–4:00Lea Daniel
Analyzing a hydrogen corridor from Houston to Los Angeles
4:00–4:30Esther Goita
Are Hydrogen Fugitive Emissions Truly A Problem?
4:30–4:45Dr. Emily Beagle
Why Hydrogen is Good for Texas and Texas is Good for Hydrogen
4:45–5:00Dr. Emily Beagle
Hydrogen and the Food-Energy-Water Nexus
5:00–5:15Break
5:15–5:30Isabella Peterson
Advancing energy efficiency through statewide conservation policy in Texas
5:30–6:00Dr. Joshua Rhodes
The Impact of the Texas 2023 Legislative Session on the ERCOT Grid
6:00–6:45Reception (and group photo)
6:45–8:15Dinner
Friday, January 16, 2025
8:30–9:00Nick Laws
Valuing Distributed Energy Resources for Non Wires Alternatives
9:00–9:30Matthew Skiles
Assessing the potential for building retrofits to mitigate ERCOT load shed during Winter Storm Uri
9:30–10:00Drew Kassel
Connecting Texas to a National Grid and Preventing Winter Storm Blackouts
10:00–10:15Break
10:15–10:45Braden Pecora
Does weather year matter for grid modeling?
10:45–11:00Melina Katsiroumba
Equity and the ERCOT Power System: Considering Environmental Externalities
11:00–11:30Dr. Joshua Rhodes
The Impact of Renewables on Texas: The 2023 Heat Dome and Beyond
11:30–12:00Dr. Michael E. Webber
Improving Global Energy Literacy
12:00–1:00Lunch
1:00Adjourn
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.