Robert Bryce, a journalist, film producer and author of texts concerning energy and politics, is scheduled to give the keynote address at the University of Idaho’s first annual Energy Symposium. The event, hosted for the first time by the UI Energy Institute, will take place March 4 and 5 with registration for the address priced at $50 for adults, $35 for seniors and $15 for students with ID. Bryce’s keynote will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 4, in the Bruce Pitman Center International Ballroom.
Bryce has spent several decades researching the intersections of energy, power, politics and innovation, according to a UI press release. His books, including “A Question of Power: Electricity and the Wealth of Nations” and “Pipe Dreams: Greed, Ego and the Death of Enron,” discuss topics of energy consumption and development and the rise of fall of corporations. He has given over 500 lectures regarding various aspects of energy across the world.
“Bryce has spent a long career reporting on energy topics,” John Kumm, executive director of the UI Energy Institute, wrote in an email to The Argonaut. “He views energy primarily through a human and economic lens, asking how decisions made around energy impact all of us who use it… Bryce is deeply knowledgeable and plainly spoken, so his presentations are educational whether or not the listener has a technical background.”
The Energy Symposium champions clean, reliable and affordable energy while also providing energy literacy education for both professionals and students. The symposium will focus on the permits required for the generation and transmission of energy. These permits act as a safeguard for the resources that are available, but can also become a pain point due to extensive timelines. Kumm explained that the energy systems at use must balance environmental stewardship with the urgent need to upgrade infrastructure.
“[The] Energy Symposium delivers on the UI Energy Institute’s mission to lead discussion on energy issues facing our region,” Kumm wrote. “The symposium brings together experts, researchers and policy makers to engage in these complex topics while educating our students and inspiring more to pursue energy-related disciplines.”
The UI Energy Institute looks to shape the future of energy production by building on the pillars of education, research and industry partnership.
Affordable energy and improvements to the existing energy grid can help strengthen healthcare systems, drive economic opportunities and raise the standard of living according to Kumm.
“When communities understand energy’s connection to human flourishing, they are better equipped to support practical energy solutions that balance environmental responsibility with reliability and cost-effectiveness,” Kumm wrote.
Rebekah Brown can be reached at [email protected].