The conference will highlight the technical challenges and research needs in energy management and sustainability—a topic of global importance today —and thereby stimulate new ideas for scientific research and technological innovation. Furthermore, the involvement of graduate and undergraduate student researchers in the conference will serve to intellectually stimulate them and enhance the probability of their pursuing graduate work in the areas of energy management/production and sustainability.

Georgia Tech serves as the host for this premier National Science Foundation (NSF) conference, sponsored by the Division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation (CMMI), focusing on research and education across the Division's programs. CMMI’s mission is to fund fundamental research and education in support of NSF’s strategic goals, which are directed toward advances in the civil, mechanical, industrial and manufacturing engineering disciplines. Additionally, CMMI focuses on the reduction of risks and damage resulting from earthquakes and other natural and technological hazards.

Conference activities will include more than 1,000 poster presentations; technical tours of local companies and Georgia Tech; and plenary and breakout sessions on funding opportunities and proposal writing, research needs, opportunities, and best practices. The conference also will provide an excellent opportunity for networking between NSF grantees, students, industry, and government, hopefully motivating them to become innovators in these areas in their future careers, and make a positive impact on society.