Monday, March 30, 2015

Summer Institute on Sustainability and Energy


The University of Illinois at Chicago and UI LABS Present the 5th Annual
Summer Institute on Sustainability and Energy

In partnership with Argonne National Laboratory; Clean Energy Trust; Energy Policy Institute at Chicago (University of Chicago); Institute for Sustainability & Energy at Northwestern (Northwestern University); Loyola University; Wanger Institute for Sustainable Energy Research (Illinois Institute of Technology)


The SISE Program
The Summer Institute on Sustainability and Energy (SISE) is a two-week intensive workshop and lecture series for students and professionals.  From August 6-18, a diverse body of participants will engage a broad spectrum of energy and sustainability-related topics through daily presentations, collaborative projects, mentoring activities, site visits, and networking opportunities with leading research institutions and companies in the digital technology and energy sectors. The issues presented will be of interest to scientists, economists, political scientists, urban planners, engineers, architects, and entrepreneurs. Graduates leave as thoughtful and informed global citizens with a firm foundation and expanded network for careers in sustainability, energy, and smart technology and infrastructure.

2015 Theme: Digital Rebirth
Digital technology now allows us to capture the dynamics of entire systems, from manufacturing lines to the electricity grid to the flow of people, cars, water, and waste. Given the need to service concentrated population clusters, cities in particular can take advantage of digital technology and the Internet of Things to improve systems delivering energy, water, and transportation. Yet this requires addressing such challenges as retrofitting or replacing aging infrastructure, data collection and management, privacy issues, cybersecurity risks, and the formation of new business and financing models.

SISE will 1) explore the crossroads of digital manufacturing, smart cities, and energy; 2) dive deep into specific applications such as smart grid and the connected vehicle; and 3) theorize how these innovations can usher in a more sustainable future. Topics will revolve around integration; sourcing and use of supply; reduction of waste; energy and resource demands; big data collection and use; anticipation, reaction, and adaptation to the unexpected; and sensors, connectivity, and cybersecurity.



Now Accepting Applications
Admission into the program is highly competitive, drawing from a national pool of applicants. Applicants accepted into the program can expect to receive lodging support for the duration of the 2-week program and some meals on weekdays. Many will receive partial support for travel costs.

Senior-level undergraduates (as of the fall of 2014), graduate students, and professionals working in the fields of sustainability and energy who are living, working, or studying in the United States are eligible to apply. An online application form, a resume, and three letters of reference are required. Applications will be accepted through July 1, 2015. More information is provided on the SISE website.

We invite you to learn more about the SISE program by visiting us on the web. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Thomas Aláan (uic.sise.admissions@gmail.com), SISE Program Coordinator. We look forward to seeing some of you in Chicago this summer!