Women in Clean Energy Conference hosted by UD and OSU strives for gender equity : University of Dayton, Ohio

Thursday September 3, 2020

Women in Clean Energy Conference hosted by UD and OSU strives for gender equity

By Mark Gokavi

The virtual Women in Clean Energy Conference aims to provide knowledge, connections and resources to help women create impactful careers.

“Everyone should have a seat at the table in the fight against climate change, we believe in helping women get there,” organizers of the event wrote in a release. “We want to empower women to make a difference in the male-dominated energy industry and educate men on the challenges often faced by women in the industry.

“We believe that by providing education, networking, and recruitment opportunities, we can close the gender gap in the energy industry in an empowering and productive way.”

The event, Sept. 29-Oct. 3, has a homepage hosted on the University of Dayton’s Hanley Sustainability Institute website that includes information on the five sessions, the participants and links to register. The keynote speaker is Susan Brennan, the executive director and COO of Bloom Energy. The event also will involve University of Dayton alumni.

“Throughout the summer, a group of women made up of University of Dayton students and alumni in collaboration with students from Ohio State University have been working to create a unique, virtual experience for students and industry professionals interested in clean energy,” said Sophia Palmer, an HSI student leader and event organizer. “The Women in Clean Energy Conference premiered last fall at UD with speakers, and the event was very successful in connecting students with fellow female professionals in the clean energy field.

“Speakers at last year's event, many who were UD alumni, also had a moving experience as they learned that their pathways to a career in clean energy were very similar. This year, the conference planners are trying to expand the conference by inviting women from across the U.S. to speak about clean energy topics and inviting participants from many universities and industries.”

For more sustainability news and information, visit HSI’s news blog, the Hanley Sustainability Institute website and the Sustainability Program website.

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