{"693342":{"#nid":"693342","#data":{"type":"news","title":"University Energy Institute Leaders Gather at Georgia Tech to Discuss Resilient Energy Futures","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ELeaders from university energy institutes across the country gathered at Georgia Tech Oct. 14 \u2013 15 for the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ueic.org\/events\/leadership-summit-2023-5dt6d-8jbcc-dyxk6\u0022\u003E2026 University Energy Institute Leadership Collaborative (UEILC) Summit\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHosted by Georgia Tech\u0027s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/energy.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EStrategic Energy Institute\u003C\/a\u003E (SEI), the annual summit brought together representatives from academia, industry, government, national laboratories, and nonprofits to discuss strengthening energy systems and preparing for a changing energy future. Topics focused on collaboration, workforce development, and strategies for building resilience amid the challenges in the energy sector.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Energy resilience requires more than technological innovation. It depends on strong partnerships across universities, industry, government, and national laboratories,\u0022 said SEI Executive Director \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/energy.gatech.edu\/people\/yuanzhi-tang\u0022\u003EYuanzhi Tang\u003C\/a\u003E, who delivered the summit\u2019s opening remarks. \u0022The UEILC Summit serves as an important forum to exchange ideas, identify shared challenges, and build collaborations among energy institutes across the country. These efforts are essential to strengthening energy systems and preparing the workforce that will support them.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFollowing Tang, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/timothy-charles-lieuwen\u0022\u003ETim Lieuwen\u003C\/a\u003E, Georgia Tech\u0027s interim president and executive vice president for Research, delivered a keynote address on academia\u0027s role in advancing a resilient energy future. Lieuwen emphasized the unique role of universities as trusted conveners and honest brokers, bringing together stakeholders with diverse perspectives to navigate an evolving energy ecosystem.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA fireside chat featuring \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/michael-caravaggio\/\u0022\u003EMike Caravaggio\u003C\/a\u003E of EPRI, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/stephanie-gossman-a898b717\/?isSelfProfile=false\u0022\u003EStephanie Gossman\u003C\/a\u003E of Georgia Power, and Tang explored how artificial intelligence, data center expansion, and rising electricity demand are reshaping the energy landscape. The speakers also discussed how their organizations are working to strengthen grid reliability, expand infrastructure, and support a reliable energy future.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFounded with support from \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sloan.org\/\u0022\u003Ethe Alfred P. Sloan Foundation\u003C\/a\u003E to strengthen collaboration among university energy institutes, the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ueic.org\/\u0022\u003EUniversity Energy Institute Leadership Collaborative\u003C\/a\u003E provides a forum for advancing energy research, education, and engagement.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cA systems approach to today\u2019s energy challenges \u2014 where academia, industry, and government collaborate to provide many perspectives on a problem \u2014 can only happen if there is a venue and a community where these discussions can safely take place,\u201d says\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/energy.cmu.edu\/directory\/bios\/tkacik-daniel.html\u0022\u003EDaniel Tkacik\u003C\/a\u003E, executive director of Carnegie Mellon\u2019s Scott Institute for Energy Innovation as well as the principal investigator of the Sloan Foundation grant that supports the UEILC. \u201cThis summit continues to provide that valuable venue for collaboration, and we are grateful to our generous hosts at Georgia Tech.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe summit theme, Expanding Collaborations for Resilient Energy Futures, framed discussions on regional energy resilience, grid vulnerabilities, geopolitical influences on energy planning, the growth of data centers, and workforce education.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022The UEILC annual summit provides an excellent opportunity for energy institute leaders from across the nation to come together and share perspectives, strengthen partnerships, and advance solutions that can help shape more resilient energy futures,\u0022 said \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:https:\/\/energy.gatech.edu\/people\/christine-conwell\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022mailto:https:\/\/energy.gatech.edu\/people\/christine-conwell\u0022\u003EChristine Conwell\u003C\/a\u003E, director of planning and operations at SEI. \u0022The conversations over the course of the summit reinforced the importance of cross-sector partnerships in creating new opportunities for innovation.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EConversations and networking opportunities provided a broader understanding of how different regions are strengthening energy resilience, addressing emerging threats to power infrastructure, adapting to geopolitical and economic shifts, and preparing for increased electricity demand driven by artificial intelligence and data centers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022It was exciting to see so many diverse perspectives united by a common goal of building more resilient energy systems,\u0022 said \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/jordann-britt\u0022\u003EJordann Britt\u003C\/a\u003E, SEI program manager and a UEILC Bridge-Builder Fellow.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBritt helped organize the summit as part of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ueic.org\/bridgebuilder-fellows\u0022\u003EUEILC Bridge-Builder Fellows Program,\u003C\/a\u003E which supports emerging leaders in the university energy community.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ELeaders from university energy institutes across the country gathered at Georgia Tech Oct. 14 \u2013 15 for the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ueic.org\/events\/leadership-summit-2023-5dt6d-8jbcc-dyxk6\u0022\u003E2026 University Energy Institute Leadership Collaborative (UEILC) Summit\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHosted by Georgia Tech\u0027s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/energy.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EStrategic Energy Institute\u003C\/a\u003E (SEI), the annual summit brought together representatives from academia, industry, government, national laboratories, and nonprofits to discuss strengthening energy systems and preparing for a changing energy future. Topics focused on collaboration, workforce development, and strategies for building resilience amid the challenges in the energy sector.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Leaders from university energy institutes across the country gathered at Georgia Tech Oct. 14 \u2013 15 for the 2026 University Energy Institute Leadership Collaborative (UEILC) Summit. "}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2026-10-20 15:51:25","changed_gmt":"2026-10-20 16:23:42","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-10-20T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-10-20T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"681487":{"id":"681487","type":"image","title":"UEILC-Day-1-27.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003E2026 University Energy Institute Leadership Collaborative Summit Attendees\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1792511505","gmt_created":"2026-10-20 15:51:45","changed":"1792511505","gmt_changed":"2026-10-20 15:51:45","alt":"Group picture of the 2026 University Energy Institute Leadership Collaborative Summit Attendees","file":{"fid":"265897","name":"UEILC-Day-1-27.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/10\/20\/UEILC-Day-1-27.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/10\/20\/UEILC-Day-1-27.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":13968014,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/10\/20\/UEILC-Day-1-27.jpg?itok=9TTKfGoP"}},"681488":{"id":"681488","type":"image","title":"UEILC-Day-1-10.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EUniversity Energy Institute Leadership Collaborative\u0027s Bridge-Builder Fellows at the 2026 Annual Summit\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1792511589","gmt_created":"2026-10-20 15:53:09","changed":"1792511589","gmt_changed":"2026-10-20 15:53:09","alt":"University Energy Institute Leadership Collaborative\u0027s Bridge-Builder Fellows (2026-2027)","file":{"fid":"265898","name":"UEILC-Day-1-10.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/10\/20\/UEILC-Day-1-10.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/10\/20\/UEILC-Day-1-10.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":14074063,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/10\/20\/UEILC-Day-1-10.jpg?itok=jbkoJns4"}},"681489":{"id":"681489","type":"image","title":"UEILC-Day-1-08.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EJordann Britt, Program Manager at the Strategic Energy Institute participates in a discussion panel featuring Bridge-Builder Fellows at the 2026 UEILC Annual Summit\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1792511740","gmt_created":"2026-10-20 15:55:40","changed":"1792511740","gmt_changed":"2026-10-20 15:55:40","alt":"Jordann Britt, Strategic Energy Institute Program Manager participates in a panel of Bridge-Builder Fellows at the 2026 UEILC Annual Summit","file":{"fid":"265899","name":"UEILC-Day-1-08.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/10\/20\/UEILC-Day-1-08.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/10\/20\/UEILC-Day-1-08.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":13399442,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/10\/20\/UEILC-Day-1-08.jpg?itok=tuU6l6OI"}}},"media_ids":["681487","681488","681489"],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"},{"id":"660398","name":"Sustainability Hub"}],"categories":[{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EPriya Devarajan\u003C\/a\u003E || SEI Communications Program Manager\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}