Bridge Building: Expanding Collaborations for Greater Impact

About

The University Energy Institute Leadership Collaborative (UEILC) is a first-of-its-kind partnership of U.S. university-based energy institutes formed to address the critical challenges facing America’s energy systems. Members include leaders of over 150 energy institutes and a network of energy experts from around the world working together to inspire meaningful research, engage scholarship, inform regional and national policy, impact decision-making, and re-imagine energy education to be ready to create the future of energy systems.

This November, Duke University will host UEILC's November 2025 summit with the aim to advance the clean energy transition through innovation in education and collaboration among social science disciplines.

UEILC and the November summit are supported by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

The summit will coincide with the 10th annual Energy Week at Duke (November 3-7, 2025), a student-organized event series that will include the full-day Duke University Energy Conference on Wednesday, November 5. Summit attendees are encouraged to consider taking part in Energy Week events. Details and registration are available at energyweekatduke.org.

Agenda

Thursday, November 6

Time	Session	Speakers
8:00 - 9:00 a.m.	Registration and Networking Breakfast
9:00 - 9:15	Welcome to the 2025 UEILC Summit	Jackson Ewing (Duke, Nicholas Institute)
9:15 - 10:00	Duke University Climate Commitment	Lindsay Batchelor (Duke, Office of Climate and Sustainability
10:00 - 11:45	Partnering with Decision Makers on Local Energy Solutions	Shree Dorestant (City of Greensboro Chief Sustainability Officer) Steve Kalland (NC State) Matt Abele (NC Sustainable Energy Association) Sarah Mills (Michigan) Moderator: Clark Miller
12:00 - 12:50 p.m.	Networking Lunch (Group Photo)
1:00 - 2:30	The Future of Energy: Collaborations between Universities and National Labs	Teja Kuruganti (ORNL) Simon Pimblott (INL) Fei Ding (NREL) Moderator: Adam Bratis (NREL)
2:30 - 2:55	Networking Break
3:00 - 4:30	Energy Institutes Navigating the Evolving Energy Landscape	Jared Starr (UMass Amherst) Christine Conwell (Georgia Tech) Jeff Sammon (Texas A&M) Julie Lockwood (Rutgers) Moderator: Daniel Tkacik
4:30 - 5:00	Philanthropic Perspectives on Cooperation for Energy Leadership	Evan Michelson and Isabella Gee (Alfred P. Sloan Foundation)
5:00 - 5:30	Networking Break
5:30 - 6:30	Why Place-Based Energy Research Matters More Than Ever	Andres Clarens (Associate Director of UVA’s Environmental Institute)
6:30 - 8:30	Networking Reception - Gross Hall lobby

Friday, November 7

Time	Session	Speakers
8:00 - 8:45 a.m.	Networking Breakfast
8:50 - 9:00	Welcome to the 2025 UEILC Summit, Day 2
9:00 - 10:30	Building Bridges through Education	Katie Kross (Duke) Amanda Graham (Dartmouth) Antje Danielson (MIT) Moderator: Jeff Bielicki
10:30 - 10:50	Networking Break
10:50 - 12:00 p.m.	Running Energy Institutes: Challenges and Strategies	Mark Abel (UC Santa Barbara) and Darrin Magee (Western Washington)
12:00 - 1:00 p.m.	Networking Lunch
1:00 - 2:00	Setting Priorities for the UEILC	UEILC Executive Committee Jeff Bielicki, Ohio State University Clark Miller, Arizona State University Angeliki Diane Rigos, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Ginger Sigmon, Duke University Daniel Tkacik, Carnegie Mellon University
2:00	Adjourn

Agenda

Thursday, November 6

8:00 - 9:00 a.m.

Registration and Networking Breakfast

9:00 - 9:15

Welcome to the 2025 UEILC Summit

Jackson Ewing (Duke, Nicholas Institute)

9:15 - 10:00

Duke University Climate Commitment

Lindsay Batchelor (Duke, Office of Climate and Sustainability

10:00 - 11:45

Partnering with Decision Makers on Local Energy Solutions

Shree Dorestant (City of Greensboro Chief Sustainability Officer)

Steve Kalland (NC State)

Matt Abele (NC Sustainable Energy Association)

Sarah Mills (Michigan)

Moderator: Clark Miller

12:00 - 12:50 p.m.

Networking Lunch (Group Photo)

1:00 - 2:30

The Future of Energy: Collaborations between Universities and National Labs

Teja Kuruganti (ORNL)

Simon Pimblott (INL)

Fei Ding (NREL)

Moderator: Adam Bratis (NREL)

2:30 - 2:55

Networking Break

3:00 - 4:30

Energy Institutes Navigating the Evolving Energy Landscape

Jared Starr (UMass Amherst)

Christine Conwell (Georgia Tech)

Jeff Sammon (Texas A&M)

Julie Lockwood (Rutgers)

Moderator: Daniel Tkacik

4:30 - 5:00

Philanthropic Perspectives on Cooperation for Energy Leadership

Evan Michelson and Isabella Gee (Alfred P. Sloan Foundation)

5:00 - 5:30

Networking Break

5:30 - 6:30

Why Place-Based Energy Research Matters More Than Ever

Andres Clarens (Associate Director of UVA’s Environmental Institute)

6:30 - 8:30

Networking Reception - Gross Hall lobby

Friday, November 7

8:00 - 8:45 a.m.

Networking Breakfast

8:50 - 9:00

Welcome to the 2025 UEILC Summit, Day 2

9:00 - 10:30

Building Bridges through Education

Katie Kross (Duke)

Amanda Graham (Dartmouth)

Antje Danielson (MIT)

Moderator: Jeff Bielicki

10:30 - 10:50

Networking Break

10:50 - 12:00 p.m.

Running Energy Institutes: Challenges and Strategies

Mark Abel (UC Santa Barbara) and Darrin Magee (Western Washington)

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Networking Lunch

1:00 - 2:00

Setting Priorities for the UEILC

UEILC Executive Committee

Jeff Bielicki, Ohio State University

Clark Miller, Arizona State University

Angeliki Diane Rigos, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Ginger Sigmon, Duke University

Daniel Tkacik, Carnegie Mellon University

2:00

Adjourn

Map

Parking & Transportation

Parking is available on campus. The closest parking deck to the event is the Science Drive Deck. Information about this lot and other parking options can be found on Duke Parking & Transportation Services website under "Visitor Parking."

Travel to UEILC November Summit

The RDU Airport is 17 miles from Duke University. There is not a public transportation option from the airport to Duke—Uber, Lyft, and taxi service are best options.

Accommodations

Hotel Information

A room block is available at the AC Marriott on Erwin Road for $159 per night (+ taxes/service fees) (approximately .7 miles from the university). Please follow this link to book your room.

Duke University is committed to creating inclusive and accessible events that encourage all people, including persons living with disabilities, to fully engage in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact jen.edwards@duke.edu or 919-660-1793 in advance of your participation or visit. We will do our best to accommodate any requests.