Symposium Series Archives UH Energy brings critical issues in energy to the Houston community in our annual symposium series. We invite leading experts in academia, government and industry to participate in a panel discussion, hosted four times annually.
2020-2021 Energy Symposium Series
Human Rights in the Energy Industry
September 30, 2020
Symposium Moderator: Dean Slocum
Symposium Speakers:
- Claire Larner
- Clarita Montant
- Nili Safavi
- Thomas H. Wilson
Three-Part Symposium Series: Part 1 - Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage
October 9, 2020
Symposium Moderator: Scott Nyquist
Symposium Speakers:
- Nigel Jenvey
- Juho Lipponen
- Charles McConnell
- Jane Stricker
Three-Part Symposium Series: Part 2 - Low-Carbon Electricity Grid
October 16, 2020
Symposium Moderator: Gina S. Warren
Symposium Speakers:
- Greg Bean
- Vijay Betanabhatla
- MaryAnne Brelinsky
- Jack L. Farley
- Dr. Becca Jones-Albertus
Three-Part Symposium Series: Part 3 - Hydrogen
October 23, 2020
Symposium Moderator: Andy Steinhubl
Symposium Speakers:
- Randy Bell
- Thomas Koch Blank
- Allyson Anderson Book
- Maria João Duarte
Mitigating Natural Gas Flaring
February 26, 2021
Symposium Moderator: Dr. Christine Ehlig-Economides
Symposium Speakers:
- Colin Leyden
- Jennifer Stewart
- Dr. Susan Stuver, Ph.D., BCES
Robotics and Automation in the Energy Industry
March 26, 2021
Symposium Moderator: Dr. Aaron Becker
Symposium Speakers:
- John Allen
- Julie Angus
- Mauricio Calva
2019-2020 Energy Symposium Series
The New Energy Economy
September 12, 2019
Symposium Moderator: Robinson Meyer
Symposium Speakers:
- Christy Clark
- Ajay Mehta
- John Hofmeister
The Future of Plastics: Designed Sustainability Or Recycling
November 7, 2019
Symposium Moderator: Dr. Megan Robertson
Symposium Speakers:
- Dr. Nichole Fitzgerald
- Jill Martin
- Dr. Ganesh Nagarajan
- Dr. Susannah Scott
Transportation Revolution: Electrified and Automated
February 18, 2020
Symposium Moderator: Greg Bean
Symposium Speakers:
- Sola Lawal
- Holly Reed
- Dr. Anita Sengupta
- Norman Whitton
Energy Infrastructure: Bottleneck or Enabler?
March 19, 2020
Symposium Moderator: Dave Fehling
Symposium Speakers:
- John Hall
- Ed Hirs
- Christine Tezak
2018-2019 Energy Symposium Series
Future of the Electric Grid: Renewed or Gridlocked?
September 27, 2018
Symposium Moderator: Matt Rogers
Symposium Speakers:
- Matt Rogers
- Jesse Grossman
- Kenny Mercado
- John Berger
Carbon Management: Panacea Or Hype?
November 13, 2018
Symposium Moderator: Romany M. Webb
Symposium Speakers:
- Brock Forrest
- Bill Peacock
- Steve Oldham
- Romany Webb
Offshore Wind: Will It Happen In Texas?
March 28, 2019
Symposium Moderator: Cheryl Stahl
Symposium Speakers:
- Jim Bennett
- Deniz Ekici
- John Hartnett
- Michael J. Osborne

Cybersecurity In Energy
April 18, 2019
Keynote Speakers: Alex Phillips | Robert Smith
Symposium Panelists:
- Chris Bronk
- Arthur Conklin
- Marty Edwards
- Aron Lazka
- Rebekah Mohr
- Claudia Neuhauser
- Bryan Owens
- Jonathan Pollet
- Greg Rogers
- Chris Spirito
- Stuart Wagner
- Tyler Williams
2017-2018 Energy Symposium Series
Electric Power: Going Off the Grid
September 21, 2017
Symposium Moderator: Victor Flatt
Symposium Speakers:
- William John Berger
- Joel L. Mickey
- Heather Payne
- Ed Hirs
Permian & Peak Demand: Death of OPEC?
November 16, 2017
Symposium Moderator: Tracy Hester
Symposium Speakers:
- R.T. Dukes
- Charles A. Sternbach
- Chris Tomlinson
- Antoine Halff
Renewable Energy: Should Government Subsidies Continue?
February 8, 2018
Symposium Moderator: Bill Maloney
Symposium Speakers:
- Richard Heinberg
- Dr. Dev Millstein
- Michael Skelly
- Katie Tubb
Energy, Artificial Intelligence & Robotics: The Future of People in Energy Production
March 22, 2018
Symposium Moderator: Ramanan Krishnamoorti
Symposium Speakers:
- Julia Badger
- Michael Frish
- Rashed Haq
- David Reid
2016-2017 Energy Symposium Series
The Clean Power Plan: To Be or Not to Be?
September 20, 2016
Symposium Moderator: Tracy Hester
Symposium Speakers:
- Al Armendariz
- Jeffrey R. Holmstead
- John Hall
- Mark L. Walters
Shale Development in Texas: Six Degrees of Consideration
November 29, 2016
Symposium Moderator: Christine Ehlig-Economides
Symposium Speakers:
- David T. Allen
- John Barton
- Brian W. Stump
- Melinda E. Taylor
- Gene Theodori
- Michael H. Young
Renewable Energy: Should Government Subsidies Continue?
February 15, 2017
Symposium Moderator: Ryan Fitzpatrick
Symposium Speakers:
- Armond Cohen
- Dr. Shirley S. Ho
- Dr. Mark Z. Jacobson
- Jessica Lovering
The Future of Energy Policy
March 31, 2017
Symposium Moderator: Jim Granato
Symposium Speakers:
- Commissioner Wayne Christian
- H. Russell Frisby Jr.
- Congressman Gene Green
- Congressman Pete Olson
2015-2016 Energy Symposium Series
Arctic Drilling: Untapped Opportunity or Risky Business?
September 24, 2015
Symposium Moderator: Richard Haut
Symposium Speakers:
- Jed Hamilton
- Kevin Harun
- Bob Reiss
- Peter Van Tuyn
Carbon Tax: Is It the Right Time?
November 10, 2015
Symposium Moderator: Dave Fehling
Symposium Speakers:
- Kyle Danish
- Aparna Mathur
- Marvin Odum
- H. Leighton Steward
Energy Policy: Did the U.S. Win or Lose in the Iran Nuclear Deal?
February 15, 2016
Symposium Moderator: Chris Tomlinson
Symposium Speakers:
- Sara Vakhshouri
- Cliff Kupchan
- Joe Barnes
Navigating the Future of Personal Transportation
March 29, 2016
Symposium Moderator: Gail Delaughter
Symposium Speakers:
- Quincy D. Allen
- Emil H. Frankel
- Ken Laberteaux
- Joshua L. Schank
2014-2015 Energy Symposium Series
US Energy Independence: Good for the Nation?
September 30, 2014
Symposium Moderator: Dave Fehling
Symposium Speakers:
- Edward Chow
- Ed Hirs
- Jane Kleeb
America's Energy Infrastructure: Is It Safe?
November 11, 2014
Symposium Moderator: Candace Beeke
Symposium Speakers:
- Charles Esser
- Steve Magness
- Carl Weimer
Private Profit vs. Public Good: Do Energy Companies Have a Social Responsibility?
February 10, 2015
Symposium Moderator: John Beddow
Symposium Speakers:
- Badar Khan
- Nate Teti
- Aneel Karnani
- Kathleen Hartnett White
Energy Workforce: How Do We Prepare for the Future?
March 31, 2015
Symposium Moderator: Laura Isensee
Symposium Speakers:
- John Colborn
- Elaine Cullen
- Congressman Pete Olson
2013-2014 Energy Symposium Series
Hydraulic Fracturing: Is it Sustainable?
October 8, 2013
Symposium Moderator: Margaret A. Hill
Symposium Speakers:
- Paul P. Krishna
- A. Scott Anderson
LNG Export: Is it Good for the US?
November 12, 2013
Symposium Moderator: Jeff Pendergraft
Symposium Speakers:
- John Felmy
- Scott Morrison
Climate Change: Is it a Real Threat?
February 11, 2014
Symposium Moderator: Barry L. Lefer, Ph.D.
Symposium Speakers:
- Richard A. Feely, Ph.D.
- John W. Nielsen-Gammon, Ph.D.
- David Hone
Renewable Energy: Need for Governmental Support?
March 4, 2014
Symposium Moderator: Dr. Joseph Pratt
Symposium Speakers:
- Congressman Gene Green
- Robert L. Bradley Jr.
- Jimmy Glotfelty