2023 Fall Blog Competition

Details

Overview

The Kleinman Center for Energy Policy at the University of Pennsylvania is pleased to announce an update to this year’s student blog completion. Instead of restricting submissions to written blogs, as we have in past years, we invite you to respond to this year’s prompt with a written, video, or audio blog.

Prompt

Within your lifetime, the world has seen exponential investment in renewable energy technologies, major shifts in international trade and environmental agreements, and tectonic shifts in the way the scientific and policy community think about the future of energy. Although this rapid evolution continues to this day, progress can feel frustratingly slow.

In your blog, we want you to trace a single, concrete example of a shift that has occurred or is still occurring. You could explore the emergence of a new technology and how you see that technology being used in the future, you could discuss new energy policy ideas and frameworks that have developed in response to the climate crisis, or you can tell us a personal story of how your perspective or the perspectives of those around you have shifted.

In all cases, we hope that your blog will seek to answer the following questions: “Where were we? Where are we now? And how might this evolution impact our energy future?” Your blog should inform, challenge, or strengthen existing narratives and should communicate novel ideas, insights, and/or concerns related to energy policy and future sustainability.

How to Submit

Submit your audio, video, or written blog via this form.

• Video or Audio Blogs: Your video or audio blog should be no more than 5 minutes long. Before completing the form, upload your media file to Google Drive, Dropbox, or similar cloud folder and include a link in your submission form. Please ensure the folder is viewable to anyone with the link.
• Written Blogs: Your written blog should be no more than 800 words and should include relevant hyperlinks and up to three graphics with credits. Upload your Word doc (.doc or .docx file) to the form.

Judging & Prizes

Our panel of experts will review your submission. Your entry will be evaluated and scored according to the following criteria:

• Relevance to energy policy and sustainability
• Creativity and originality of ideas
• Quality of execution
• Ambition
• Effective communication to a broad audience

Judging Panel

Sanya Carley

Faculty Co-Director

Sanya Carley is the faculty co-director of the Kleinman Center and Presidential Distinguished Professor of Energy Policy and City Planning at the Stuart Weitzman School of Design.

Peter Psarras

Research Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering

Peter Psarras is a research assistant professor in chemical and biomolecular engineering at the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy.

Benjamin Schmitt

Senior Fellow, Kleinman Center and SAS

Benjamin Schmitt is a joint senior fellow at the Kleinman Center and the School of Arts and Sciences. He previously was a postdoctoral research fellow and project development scientist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.

Shelley Welton

Presidential Distinguished Professor

Shelley Welton is a Presidential Distinguished Professor of Law and Energy Policy with the Kleinman Center and Penn Carey Law. Her research focuses on how climate change is transforming energy and environmental law and governance.

The Kleinman Center will award a single winning submission from each of the three categories (video, audio, and written). Each winner will receive a $500 cash prize and may be highlighted on the Kleinman Center’s website, podcast and/or social media channels.

The Kleinman Center student blog contest offers an exciting opportunity for students to showcase their creativity, innovation, and passion for energy policy and sustainability. We look forward to receiving compelling and inspiring submissions that contribute to the ongoing dialogue on shaping a sustainable future. For further clarification on the submission criteria or review process, please email Oscar Serpell (serpello@upenn.edu).