Events

September 27 - 28, 2024

The Irving Institute at Dartmouth College

Join a diverse community of academics, local experts, and community organizations to discuss and strategize pathways to a just energy transition in New England. Topics include decarbonization, reducing energy burdens, household electrification, community solar, and more. Panels include IRA funding success, energy navigator programs, community partnerships, and university-community collaborations. Limited financial assistance is available (apply here).

September 25, 2024 | 2:45 -  4:00 pm

Location: ISB 145

A just energy transition in South Africa faces a complex landscape, particularly in light of the ongoing electricity crisis. Some aspects are specific to South Africa: post-apartheid inequality and conflict and significant resource wealth. Ranking 15th among nations in terms of total carbon emissions, South Africa remains highly fossil dependent with an important coal-mining sector, 70% of electrical generation from coal, and a distressed electrical system with frequent outages. South Africa faces the challenges of high unemployment, racialized extreme inequality, and capital flight. Join us for an ETI-sponsored roundtable with faculty from around campus as we discuss history; lived experience; legal, technical, and economic challenges; and potential paths forward for energy transition in South Africa. Read more about the event here.

September 20, 2024 | 8:45 am - 1:00 pm

Location: ISB 241H

The Clean Energy Extension and Energy Transition Institute cordially invite you to a watch party and discussion for the upcoming New England Electricity Restructuring Roundtable. Since 1995, the Roundtable has met bi-monthly to discuss current and emerging topics related to the electric power industry throughout the Northeast. On September 20, the roundtable is hosting two panels on Grid Modernization, Distributed Energy Resources, & Affordability. Panelists include a mix of state officials, utility executives, and non-profit organizations.

Join us for this virtual watch party and in person discussion with UMass personnel engaged in this area. Drop in at any time from 8:45 AM - 1:00 PM. Snacks, coffee, and pizza will be provided.

March 15, 2024, 11-12:15 pm ET

UMass Isenberg Room N145

Please join ETI for a seminar by Ayse Selin Kocaman, Associate Professor of Industrial Engerineering at Bilkent University.

Abstract excerpt: Rising population growth rates, depleting fuel sources, environmental issues, and economic developments have substantially increased the importance of sustainable energy planning. With the generation and distribution of energy resources becoming more complex, there is an ever-growing need for the applications of mathematical optimization in the energy industry. This seminar will focus on recent research advancements in the development of optimization-based solutions for the design and operations of sustainable electric power systems.

November 27, 2023, 11-12:30 pm ET

UMass Campus Center room 168C

Join ETI and four experts to discuss the major roadblocks to implementing green energy technology and the systemic changes that might reduce those roadblocks while supporting equity and environmental protection:

Michael Judge, Massachusetts Undersecretary of Energy

Sarah Adams, State Policy Advisor with ISO NE

Eric Wilkinson, Government Affairs Lead at Ørsted

Kristina Karlsson, Senior Program Manager, Climate and Economic Transformation from the Roosevelt Institute in NYC

November 17, 2023

Mary Wambui, Asset Manager in the Planning Office for Urban Affairs at the Archdiocese of Boston, is an expert on housing equity, and through that has done a lot of work on energy efficiency and electricity rate design. She will be talking, among other things, about how she has successfully worked with utilities to get equity-focused regulations implemented.

November 16, 2023, 12 pm ET

Gunness Student Center in Marcus Hall, College of Engineering

Please join ETI for a seminar by Narasimha Rao, Associate Professor of Energy in the Yale School of the Environment

Abstract excerpt: The US Government projects that to meet its climate goals heat pumps would comprise up to 60 percent of heating appliance sales by 2030. In this talk, Rao will present some new research on the social and contextual determinants of heating appliance ownership in New York state, and its implications for future heat pump uptake. The talk will raise questions about how prepared we are to credibly bring knowledge from the social sciences on household decisions into energy models and projections.

October 19, 2023, 4-5 pm ET

Location: Marcus Hall Gunness Student Center, 100 Natural Resources Road

Please join ETI for an info session watch party on the EnergyTech University Prize - sponsored by the Office of Technology Transitions (OTT) at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). UMass Amherst students of all levels or faculty interested in participating in a competition to design a business plan for a promising new technology should consider participation. $400,000 in cash prizes ($100,000 in faculty prizes) available! RSVP for Watch Party

October 17, 2023 4-6pm ET

Location: Life Science Laboratories (LSL), S330/S340

Register here for a special event, “Building Pathways to Invention: The power of broadening participation and diversity among student inventors” hosted by the Berthiaume Center for Entrepreneurship at UMass Amherst in collaboration with Lemelson-MIT.

The event will include a preview of the film Pathways to Invention, recent research and a panel discussion with faculty, inventors, and entrepreneurs, including climate scientist/inventor, John Fabel.

October 12, 2023, 12 pm ET

Energy, Equity, Housing and Health: Connecting Dots for Change

Please join ETI and ELEVATE for a seminar presented by Dr. Diana Hernandez, Associate Professor of Sociomedical Sciences at Columbia University. Professor Hernandez teaches graduate level courses on qualitative research methods, design and analysis; public health leadership; and energy justice. She is a Mayoral Appointee to NYC's Environmental Justice Advisory Board. Her first book about energy insecurity in the US is due to be published in 2024.

MAY 15TH, 2023, 10:30-4pm

Location: Student Union Ballroom

A showcase for energy transition research and campus climate action at UMass Amherst. Open to all fundamental and applied areas of energy research and climate action including work in STEM, social sciences, humanities, business, and interdisciplinary studies.

April 19th, 2023 9-1pm

Environmental Justice and Social Equity Meets Energy Research

Do you work in Environmental Justice? Do you work at the nexus of Social Equity? Do you work in Energy Research? Do you like a free lunch? Then join us for this networking event!

Location: IALS Conference Room

December 1st, 2022 5pm EST

Join us in celebrating Native American heritage month by viewing the film Powerlands this November. Attend the extravaganza to experience a discussion with the film's director, Q&A with UMass Amherst Deans and Faculty, followed by a dinner featuring Native American cuisine, and a big screen viewing of the film.

Location: Carney Family Auditorium, Furcolo Hall - UMass Amherst College of Education

November 9th, 2022 4pm EST

Distinguished Faculty member and Director of the Energy Transition Institute, Erin Baker, will be giving a lecture on the highly complex climate problem and why uncertainty is impeding the world’s ability to respond.

Location: Great Hall, Old Chapel UMass Amherst

November 9th, 2022 6pm EST

Panelists will discuss what innovations are needed to spur the transition, and how education should evolve to support the energy transition. Hear from the previous Executive Director of ETI, Anna Goldstein, now with Prime Coalition, Laura Drauker of CERES, Michael Fogwill of Waters Corporation, and Tricia Canavan, of Tech Foundry.

Location: UMass Amherst (room TBD)

July 29, 2022 9:30am - 10:30am ET

Our summer undergraduate researchers who attended the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) summer program will present posters detailing the incredible projects they have been working on this summer.

May 3, 2022, 10:30am-4:30pm ET

A showcase for energy transition research and campus climate action at UMass Amherst. Open to all fundamental and applied areas of energy research and climate action including work in STEM, social sciences, humanities, business, and interdisciplinary studies.

April 21, 2022, 4:00pm ET

Wind Energy Fellows and the ELEVATE Program are hosting John Wamburu, ELEVATE Fellow and PhD Candidate in Computer and Information Sciences at UMass Amherst. The talk is entitled, “Equitable Decarbonization in the Smart Grid.”

Location: Zoom

March 10, 2022, 11:30am ET

Fikile Brushett, Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering at MIT, will speak at a seminar hosted jointly by the Department of Chemistry and the Department of Chemical Engineering.

Details TBD.

March 3, 2022, 5:00pm ET

The Commonwealth Honors College and Phi Kappa Phi will host cultural anthropologist and decolonial scholar Hilda Lloréns for their annual Daffodil Lecture.

Location: Campus Center Auditorium

March 3, 2022, 4:00pm ET

Wind Energy Fellows and the ELEVATE Program are hosting Greg Nemet, Professor at the University of Wisconsin, Madison in the La Follette School of Public Affairs. The talk is entitled, “Dynamic Industrial Policy for Climate Change.”

Location: Zoom

Feb. 28, 2022

Join us for a celebration of the establishment of the Energy Transition Institute.

4-5pm ET: Zoom webinar

4-6pm ET: Live watch party and reception for the campus community in the Old Chapel

Dec. 2, 2021, 4:00pm ET

Wind Energy Fellows program to host Erin Mayfield, Assistant Professor at Dartmouth College, for a talk titled, “Designing net-zero emissions energy systems to address environmental and societal objectives.”

Location: Zoom

Nov. 9, 2021, 1:30pm ET

ETI is hosting a dialogue for UMass Amherst researchers to meet, learn about each other’s work, and generate creative ideas for new research directions.

Location: Campus Center

Oct. 1, 2021, 12-1pm ET

Distinguished Scientist and Engineer Seminar Series to host Ekundayo Shittu, Professor of Engineering Management and Systems Engineering at GWU, and UMass alum.

Location: Bernie Dallas Room, Goodell Hall

May 4, 2021, 5:30pm ET

For students, faculty, and staff across the UMass Amherst campus to present their work on clean energy, climate, and decarbonization.