{"688956":{"#nid":"688956","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Future Focused: The 2026 Southeastern Energy Conference at Georgia Tech ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe 2026\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/energyexpo.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESoutheastern Energy Conference\u003C\/a\u003E, Georgia Tech\u2019s annual student-led energy and sustainability conference, took place on Feb. 18. Organized by the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/energyclub.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EEnergy Club\u003C\/a\u003E at Georgia Tech, the conference welcomed more than 150 attendees, including industry leaders, policymakers, researchers, and students, featuring dynamic discussions on the future of energy. The theme, \u0022Future Focused: Advancing the Energy of Tomorrow,\u0022 highlighted the industry\u2019s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and collaboration as participants explored emerging technologies, evolving policies, and strategies shaping the energy landscape of tomorrow.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe event kicked off with a keynote address from\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/ceser\/person\/alex-fitzsimmons\u0022\u003EAlex Fitzsimmons\u003C\/a\u003E, acting undersecretary of the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER) at the U.S. Department of Energy. He shared insights into the administration\u2019s work at the intersection of cybersecurity and the rapidly evolving U.S. energy sector. The first panel of the day, \u201cEnergy Innovation,\u201d explored leaders\u2019 perspectives on organizational innovation within the industry. With Tech undergraduate\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/neil-ansu-ghosh\/\u0022\u003ENeil Ghosh\u003C\/a\u003E moderating the panel,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/roderick-jackson-b1a3381\/\u0022\u003ERoderick Jackson\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/jamie-barber-0686599\/\u0022\u003EJamie Barber\u003C\/a\u003E, and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/mark-tozzi\/\u0022\u003EMark Tozzi\u003C\/a\u003E discussed emerging energy technologies and their potential impact on the industry.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELater, the Industry Showcase featured representatives from energy companies such as GE Vernova, Cherry Street Energy, Orion, GTA, Kimley Horn, and E4E Solutions, providing valuable networking and career development opportunities for students and professionals. A panel on \u201cOvercoming Growing Pains\u201d followed, with\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/josh-stallings-a942b91a2\/\u0022\u003EJosh Stallings\u003C\/a\u003E, vice president of Power Delivery Strategy and Support at Georgia Power;\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/dan-molzahn-26001aa\/\u0022\u003EDaniel Molzahn\u003C\/a\u003E, associate professor in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE); and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/lisawichmannberry\/\u0022\u003ELisa Berry\u003C\/a\u003E, GE Vernova\u2019s technical director for Decarbonization and Data Centers for the Americas region. The discussion was moderated by\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/radhikasharmaga\/\u0022\u003ERadhika Sharma\u003C\/a\u003E, co-president of the Energy Club and a graduate student in ECE, and focused on current challenges facing the rapidly growing energy industry.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne of the standout moments of the conference was the Student Symposium, where 16 student researchers presented their work while competing for $1,000 in prize money sponsored by Cobb EMC. Projects ranged from residential demand management optimization studies to the challenges and viability of hydrogen combustion engines.\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/erik-barbosa-45758416b\/\u0022\u003EErik Barbosa\u003C\/a\u003E earned first place for his research on a multiscale approach to thermochemical energy storage within buildings.\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/daksh-adhikari\/\u0022\u003EDaksh Adhikari\u003C\/a\u003E received second place for examining the mitigation of flow boiling instabilities with active flow control, and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/william-schertzer\/\u0022\u003EWilliam Schertzer\u003C\/a\u003E placed third for work using machine learning and neural networks to model anion exchange membrane degradation.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe final event of the day, \u201cScaling Emergent Energy Technologies,\u201d focused on growing the newest energy technologies within the industry. Moderated by Georgia Tech undergraduate\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/james-lovely-aa5753288\/\u0022\u003EJames Lovely\u003C\/a\u003E, the panel included\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/ldb\/\u0022\u003ELuke Bockewitz\u003C\/a\u003E, director of business development at Kinetics;\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/nian-liu-68740b7a\/\u0022\u003ENian Liu\u003C\/a\u003E, associate professor and Robert G. Miller Faculty Fellow in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering; and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/tomcuthbertiii\/\u0022\u003EThomas Cuthbert\u003C\/a\u003E, chief technology officer at Emrgy. The conference closed with a keynote speech from James Marlow, president and CEO of Southface Institute, who provided a framework for thinking through innovation and tactical advice for aspiring energy innovators and leaders.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022The level of organization and vision demonstrated by the students was outstanding,\u201d Molzahn said. \u201cBy focusing on the evolving energy landscape and inviting experts from across the field, they created an event that sparked important conversations for our campus.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt was an honor to serve as the Energy Club\u2019s 2026 conference chair and work alongside the strong energy community at Georgia Tech,\u201d said Jonathan Acree. \u201cMeaningful innovation in energy depends on collaboration, and it was truly encouraging to see such an interdisciplinary group of talented students, researchers, and industry leaders come together around the shared goal of advancing our energy future.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe conference also highlighted Georgia Tech\u2019s role as a hub for forward-thinking dialogue on global energy challenges \u2014 and the importance of collaboration and innovation in shaping the evolving energy landscape and fostering the next generation of leaders in the field.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWritten by Georgia Tech students:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/bradenqueen\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EBraden Queen\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E, \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/orit-endalk\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EOrit\u0026nbsp;Endalk,\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/maxzhang32\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EEli Acree\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E, \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/radhikasharmaga\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003ERadhika Sharma\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe 2026\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/energyexpo.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESoutheastern Energy Conference\u003C\/a\u003E, Georgia Tech\u2019s annual student-led energy and sustainability conference, took place on Feb. 18. Organized by the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/energyclub.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EEnergy Club\u003C\/a\u003E at Georgia Tech, the conference welcomed more than 150 attendees, including industry leaders, policymakers, researchers, and students, featuring dynamic discussions on the future of energy. The theme, \u0022Future Focused: Advancing the Energy of Tomorrow,\u0022 highlighted the industry\u2019s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and collaboration as participants explored emerging technologies, evolving policies, and strategies shaping the energy landscape of tomorrow.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The 2026\u00a0Southeastern Energy Conference, Georgia Tech\u2019s annual student-led energy and sustainability conference welcomed more than 150 attendees and featured dynamic discussions on the future of energy."}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2026-03-16 16:17:05","changed_gmt":"2026-03-16 17:03:33","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-03-16T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-03-16T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679644":{"id":"679644","type":"image","title":"DSC02443-LR.jpeg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech Energy Club student members with Alex Fitzsimmons (middle), Under Secretary of Energy (Acting) at U.S. Department of Energy\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1773677896","gmt_created":"2026-03-16 16:18:16","changed":"1773677896","gmt_changed":"2026-03-16 16:18:16","alt":"Energy Club members with Alex Fitzsimmons (middle), Under Secretary of Energy (Acting) at U.S. Department of Energy","file":{"fid":"263825","name":"DSC02443-LR.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/16\/DSC02443-LR.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/16\/DSC02443-LR.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1287697,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/16\/DSC02443-LR.jpeg?itok=ebJf-6fl"}},"679648":{"id":"679648","type":"image","title":"IMG_9700-LR.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EPoster Session at the 2026 Southeastern Energy Conference\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1773677896","gmt_created":"2026-03-16 16:18:16","changed":"1773677896","gmt_changed":"2026-03-16 16:18:16","alt":"Poster Session at the 2026 Southeastern Energy 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