UChicago at CERAWeek 2026

“CERAWeek was an incredibly rewarding experience for me… Over five days, the sessions and meetings covered a remarkable range of cutting-edge topics shaping today’s energy landscape—from geothermal and nuclear to data centers and AI applications. I was also fortunate to present my research on U.S. power market financing, which sparked thoughtful questions and led to meaningful conversations with industry professionals. It was an inspiring opportunity to learn, exchange ideas, and build connections.”

“It was an incredible experience attending CERAWeek. It was one week packed of discussions on current trends in the industry which provided an excellent macro view of everything happening in the industry. It was like a crash course. “Speed to Power” was referred to recurrently and industry leaders talked about the need for collaboration, now more than ever, to face rising demand, keep prices low, and ensure supply chain security.”

“Attending CERAWeek as part of the UChicago student delegation pushed me out of my comfort zone, in ways both expected and unexpected. Presenting on Innovators Row at CERAWeek was at first intimidating, but it unexpectedly became a highlight of the conference, providing an opportunity to engage with professionals across the energy industry. It was a rare chance to discuss analysis I’d done as a policy student with practitioners, and their questions gave me fruitful ideas for future analysis on nuclear energy’s position in clean energy legislation. I left the conference thinking about the role that policy can and must play to push the industry on a path as fast-paced and sustainable as climate change demands, and where I can contribute to that as a future policy professional focused on climate change.”

“During my week at CERAWeek, I was fully immersed in the world of energy. From Innovation Agora to executive meetings, from the Nexus exhibition floor to various company houses, every moment, every corner, and every person I encountered became a source of knowledge and meaningful connections.”

“Attending CERAWeek was an especially valuable experience as it brought together the companies, technologies, leaders, and market trends shaping the future of energy. I found it energizing to hear directly from industry leaders about power demand growth, grid reliability, decarbonization, and the evolving role of conventional and renewable energy. Connecting with other NextGen students and industry professionals was an impactful part of the week and deepened my passion for the trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the energy landscape.”