On October 30, 2024, the University hosted Climate Frontiers: Energy and Climate at UChicago, a day-long program of special events culminating in the unveiling of our Institute. The program of events demonstrated the scale and breadth of the University’s activities on energy and climate change and highlighted how our Institute will be a world leader in achieving real progress as society works to balance the need for economic growth with the urgent priority of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The slate of events included a Climate Showcase and Student Poster Session that highlighted the field-defining research already underway at UChicago; a Climate & Energy Career Fair that allowed students to better understand the diverse climate and energy career paths; and, a Leadership Forum featuring University of Chicago faculty in conversation with senior leaders from government, industry, and the non-profit sector focused on core research areas central to our institute where the University of Chicago is uniquely positioned to lead.

Below are highlights from the Climate Frontiers 2024 event. This event will occur annually, so check back for information about Climate Frontiers 2025.

Featured Event Videos

Video·Nov 1, 2024

The Future of Climate at the University of Chicago: Keynote

The University of Chicago's Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth's Founding Faculty Director Michael Greenstone unveils the mission and approach for the new Institute.
Video·Nov 1, 2024

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s Remarks

We were pleased to be joined by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker at this launch event, along with other notable speakers. Watch his featured remarks.
Video·Nov 1, 2024

Illinois Senator Dick Durbin’s Remarks

We were pleased to be joined by Illinois Senator Dick Durbin at this launch event, along with other notable speakers. Watch his featured remarks.
EPIC Video·Nov 1, 2024

Balancing Climate and Growth: A Policy Dialogue with John Podesta

Former U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp, director of the Institute of Politics, moderated a discussion with Institute Director Michael Greenstone and White House Senior Advisor for International Climate Policy John Podesta.
ETI Video·Nov 1, 2024

Energy Storage and the Future of Clean Tech

Cipher Executive Editor Amy Harder moderated a discussion with Energy Technologies Initiative Director Shirley Meng, former Department of Energy Undersecretary for Science Paul Dabbar, and Exelon CEO Calvin Butler.
CSEI Video·Nov 1, 2024

Climate Systems Engineering: A Research-First Approach to a Multidimensional Challenge

Amy Harder moderated a discussion with Climate Systems Engineering initiative Director David Keith, former Foreign Minister of Pakistan Hina Rabbani Khar, and President of the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions Nat Keohane.

Climate & Energy Career Fair

Climate Showcase

Participants

Paul Alivisatos

President, University of Chicago

Katherine Baicker

Provost, University of Chicago

Calvin Butler

President and Chief Executive Officer, Exelon Corporation

Paul Dabbar

Paul M. Dabbar, Former Undersecretary for Science, U.S. Department of Energy; Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder, Bohr Quantum Technology; Senior Research Scholar, Center on Global Energy Policy, Columbia University 

Senator Dick Durbin

Senator, Illinois (D)
Scholar

Michael Greenstone

Founding Faculty Director, Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth; Director, EPIC

Amy Harder

Executive Editor, Cipher

Heidi Heitkamp

Former U.S. Senator, North Dakota; Director, University of Chicago Institute of Politics
CSEI Scholar

David Keith

Founding Faculty Director of its Climate Systems Engineering initiative, Professor of Geophysical Science

Nat Keohane

President, Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES)

Hina Rabbani Khar

Member of the Pakistan National Assembly; Former Foreign Minister of Pakistan
ETI Scholar

Y. Shirley Meng

Founding Faculty Director, Energy Technologies Initiative; Liew Family Professor in Molecular Engineering, UChicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering

John Podesta

White House Senior Adviser for International Climate Policy

Governor JB Pritzker

Governor of Illinois

More on Climate Frontiers 2024