Summit – The Wilkes Center for Climate Science & Policy

Dr. William Anderegg Kicks off Day 1 of the Wilkes Climate Summit.

Summit-goers listen to morning plenary remarks on Day 1.

Stephen Pacala, Professor Emeritus and Senior Scholar at Princeton University, answers audience questions relayed through Dr. Anderegg on Day 1.

Jeanine Ash, Director, Head of OAE and MRV for Capture6, presents as one of the top seven Wilkes Launch Prize Finalists. Capture6 is a water-positive carbon removal company that is leveraging its technology to support climate resilience and industrial decarbonization. The company develops and commercializes highly scalable approaches to remove CO2 from the atmosphere by repurposing existing industrial-scale equipment. The company’s unique approach puts carbon dioxide removal and direct air capture (DAC) at the center of industrial decarbonization, enabling immediately bankable projects and gigaton scale.

Jason Aramburu, cofounder and CEO of Climate Robotics, a developer of mobile biochar production systems for commercial farms, presents as one of the seven Wilkes Launch Prize Finalists. Climate Robotics is a startup of roboticists, soil scientists and AI researchers created in 2020, which aims to combine artificial intelligence and advanced robotics to help sequester carbon.

Duncan Kariuki with Octavia Carbon presents on Day 1 of the Wilkes Summit. Octavia Carbon, based in Nairobi, Kenya, is building small reactors that filter CO2 from the atmosphere to pump that CO2 underground where it will be locked away for millennia.

Dr. Jessica Swanson, professor of chemistry at the University of Utah, presents about her research during an afternoon breakout session on methane. Dr. Swanson, along with Dr. Mary Lidstrom, professor emeritus of chemical engineering and microbiology at the University of Washington, Seattle, have teamed up to develop a process to harness methane-eating bacteria, known as methanotrophs, which naturally consume methane as their sole food source. Their proposed solution aims to bioengineer these methanotrophs to effectively pull methane from the air at low concentrations in next-generation bioreactors.

Tim Mundon, Chief Technical Officer at Oscilla Power, Inc., presents on Day 1 at the Summit. Oscilla Power, Inc., based in Seattle, is developing an advanced wave energy converter to capture renewable energy from the world’s oceans. Oscilla has developed the Triton, a one-megawatt wave energy converter that would be installed in an array, similar to wind turbines but using far less area with almost zero visibility. The high-efficiency wave energy capture system generates power using the relative motion of two bodies—the different motions between a floating hull and a suspended underwater ring. Oscilla Power was also a finalist for the 2023 Wilkes Climate Prize competition.

Will Sheldon, Chief Commercial Officer of Taking Root presents as one of the seven Wilkes Launch Prize Finalists. Taking Root is a startup based in Vancouver, B.C., that has developed a technology platform to accelerate forest restoration with smallholder farmers.

Dr. Anderegg relays audience questions to Ted McKlveen, Co-founder & CEO of Verne, a startup based in San Francisco. Verne was founded with the mission of decarbonizing heavy-duty transportation, a sector that is responsible for 12% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.

Masood Parvania, the Roger P. Webb Endowed Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Utah, presents during the Day 1 breakout panel on Climate AI solutions.

The Day 1 breakout panel session on water innovation. Panelists included [from Left to Right]: Ted Kowalski, Senior Program Officer, Walton Family Foundation’s Colorado River initiative; Joel Ferry, Executive Director, Utah Department of Natural Resources; Amy Haas, Executive Director, Colorado River Authority of Utah; and Beth Parker (not pictured), with the SJ Quinney College of Law, moderated the panel.

Chiel Borenstein with WattTime, speaks during the Day 1 panel on Climate and AI. Presenting panelists also included [from left to right]: Elizabeth Callaway, Assistant Professor of English at the University of Utah; Masood Parvania, Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Utah; Court Strong, Associate Professor of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Utah; and Penny Atkins (seated), Director, Research and Science at the University of Utah, who moderated the panel.

Summit attendees listen to Sarah Jewett, VP of Strategy of Fervo Energy, who presented the Day 1 afternoon keynote address.

Dr. Anderegg fields questions for Sarah Jewett with Fervo Energy during her afternoon keynote address. Fervo Energy is developing enhanced geothermal technologies in Beaver County, Utah.

Dr. Peter Trapa, Dean of the College of Science at the University of Utah, gives opening remarks on Day 2 of the Wilkes Climate Summit.

On Day 2, John Lin, Professor of Atmospheric Sciences and Associate Director of the Wilkes Center for Climate Science & Policy, acknowledges the winning student teams of this year's Climate Solutions Hackathon and Student Innovation Prize for Climate Solutions.

Asmeret Asefaw Berhe presents the morning keynote address on Day 2. Dr. Berhe is Professor of Soil Biogeochemistry, & Falasco Chair in Earth Sciences at the Department of Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of California, Merced. She spoke about her research into the intersection of soil science, geochemistry, global change science, and political ecology.

Graduate student members of the winning Climate Solutions hackathon team, the "Wildfire Resilience Collective" speak with Dr. David Lytle, Deputy Chief of Research and Development for the United States Forest Service, during the student poster presentations period.

Students mingle and share their research insights during the student poster presentations period.

U undergraduate student Marcus Tanner presents his research during the student poster presentations period.

Juliette Weber, Health and Kinesiology HBS, World Languages & Cultures BA, talks about her research during the student presentation period.

The winners of the 2024 Wilkes Center Student Innovation Prize, [from Left to Right]: Ishita Juluru, Frances Benfell, Hannah Rogers, all University of Utah undergraduate students. Conscious! is an app and Chrome extension that provides real time, holistic sustainability metrics and lower carbon alternatives for the products while shopping.

Ravan Ahmadov, the Atmospheric Composition Branch Chief for NOAA, presents during the Day 2 breakout session on wildfire.

Kerry Kelly, Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Utah, presents during the Day 2 breakout session on wildfire.

Rob Wilson, science teacher and coordinator of climate studies at Rowland Hall High School in Salt Lake City, presents during the urban heat breakout session on Day 2.

Jeremy Craft, Vice President of the Western Fire Chiefs Association and Chief of the Lehi City Fire Department, presents during the Day 2 breakout session on wildfire.

Summit-goers listen to the keynote morning speaker on Day 2.

Elizabeth Callaway, Assistant Professor of English at the University of Utah, presents during the Climate and AI panel on Day 1.

Sarah Jewett, VP of Strategy at Fervo Energy, gives the afternoon keynote presentation on Day 1.

The First Prize winning team members of the Climate Solutions Hackathon on wildfire, the Wildfire Resilience Collective (Rebecca Senft, Hannah Meier, Tegan Lengyel, Elizabeth Williams), are recognized on Day 2.

Second Prize winner of the Student Innovation Prize, Sara McCormack, a Graduate Research Assistant in Chemistry at the U, is recognized on Day 2.

The First Prize winners of the the Student Innovation Prize (Ishita Juluru, Frances Benfell, Hannah Rogers) are recognized on Day 2.

Overhead view of the student poster session on Day 2.

Panelists during the breakout session on winter sports on Day 2. Raj Basi, Vice President of Sustainability, Powdr Corp.; Zakri Siegel, Sustainability Engineer, Brendle Group; and McKenzie Skiles, Associate Professor, Geography, University of Utah.

David Lytle, Deputy Chief of Research and Development with the United States Forest Service, presents the afternoon keynote on Day 2.

Register for the 2025 Wilkes Climate Summit!

2025 Climate Summit Registration

Name

First

Last

Affiliation

Website/URL

Student UID (if a U student)

Please tell us how you learned about this event? (We're trying to improve our outreach)

Word of mouth

Social media

Email outreach from Wilkes Center

Campus advertising

Internet Search

From a science journal or media publication

From another organization

OtherOther

CAPTCHA

If you are human, leave this field blank.

Directions and Parking Information

Student Posters Information

Wilkes Center-funded graduate and undergraduate students will showcase their climate-related research projects and compete for cash prizes at the annual Wilkes Summit!

Graduate Student Prizes:
First Prize: $1500
Second Prize: $1000
Third Prize: $500
People’s Choice Awards (2): $500 each

Undergraduate Student Prizes:
First Prize: $1500
Second Prize: $1000
Third Prize: $500
People’s Choice Awards (2): $500 each

All attendees of the Wilkes Summit, both internal and public, are invited to vote on their favorite posters throughout the two-day Wilkes Summit May 14-15. Student researchers are expected to be in attendance during the main exhibition period on May 15. Poster printing is available at no cost to students thanks to our generous donors, Clay and Marie Wilkes.

Prizes will be awarded for best posters in each of the graduate research and undergraduate research categories. The People’s Choice Award will be given out to the two students whose posters receive the most votes during the main exhibition period

Student Information

Students must be the primary producer of the work in the poster.
The poster must showcase the research project which was directly funded by the Wilkes Center.
Students are expected to attend the Wilkes Summit during the main exhibition period (May 15 11:00am-12:00pm) to present their posters unless they receive prior approval from the Wilkes Center. To request an exception to the in-person component of the competition, please email Kyla.Welch@utah.edu.
Students are required to drop off their poster no later than May 13th at 3:00pm to the Wilkes Center in Crocker Science Center Suite 214.
Posters should be no more than 36"x 48" and must be printed through the Marriott Library Knowledge Commons Desk.
- - Helpful tips for poster design and printing can be found through the Marriott Library here.
When you arrive at the Knowledge Commons Desk to print your poster, please reference the “Wilkes Student List” and provide your name to receive a free print.
- - Note that their printer's maximum height is 42" and you will be asked to provide a jpeg or tiff file of your poster.

Wilkes Climate Summit Code of Conduct

Wilkes Climate Summit
Code of Conduct

Expected Behavior

All participants are treated with respect and consideration, valuing a diversity of views and opinions.
Be considerate, respectful, and collaborative.
Communicate openly with respect for others, critiquing ideas rather than individuals.
Avoid personal attacks directed toward other participants.
Be mindful of your surroundings and of your fellow participants. Alert Wilkes Climate Summit organizers if you notice a dangerous situation or someone in distress.
Respect the rules and policies of the meeting venue and hotels.

Unacceptable Behavior

Harassment, intimidation, or discrimination in any form will not be tolerated.
Physical or verbal abuse of any attendee, speaker, volunteer, service provider, or other meeting guest.
Examples of unacceptable behavior include, but are not limited to, verbal comments related to gender, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, religion, national origin, inappropriate use of nudity and/or sexual images in public spaces or in presentations, or threatening or stalking any attendee, speaker, volunteer, service provider, or other meeting guest.
Disruption of talks at oral or poster sessions.

Consequences

Anyone requested to stop unacceptable behavior is expected to comply immediately.
Wilkes Climate Summit organizers or University of Utah security may take any action deemed necessary and appropriate, including immediate removal from the meeting without warning.
Other consequences as set forth by professional societies such as the AGU Scientific Integrity and Professional Ethics Policy, as applicable.

Reporting Unacceptable Behavior

If you are the subject of unacceptable behavior or have witnessed any such behavior, please immediately notify a Wilkes Climate Summit organizer.
Notification should be done by contacting a Wilkes Climate Summit organizer on site or by emailing your concern to kyla.welch@utah.edu or ross.chambless@utah.edu.
Anyone experiencing or witnessing behavior that constitutes an immediate or serious threat to public safety is advised to call 911.

Post-summit Survey

The Wilkes Center for Climate Science & Policy

The 2025 Wilkes Climate Summit at the Eccles Alumni House at the University of Utah will convene leading policymakers, and nationally-recognized scientists, foundations, and innovators to discuss the most promising and cutting-edge solutions for climate change.

See highlights from last year's summit:

Register for the 2025 Wilkes Climate Summit!

Featured Keynote Speakers

See the Schedule

Graduate Student Prizes:
First Prize: $1500
Second Prize: $1000
Third Prize: $500
People’s Choice Awards (2): $500 each

Undergraduate Student Prizes:
First Prize: $1500
Second Prize: $1000
Third Prize: $500
People’s Choice Awards (2): $500 each

Student Information

Wilkes Climate Summit
Code of Conduct

2025 Wilkes Climate Summit Survey

Revisit the 2024 Wilkes Climate Summit at the University of Utah

Revisit the inaugural 2023 Wilkes Climate Summit at the University of Utah

The 2025 Wilkes Climate Summit at the Eccles Alumni House at the University of Utah will convene leading policymakers, and nationally-recognized scientists, foundations, and innovators to discuss the most promising and cutting-edge solutions for climate change.

See highlights from last year's summit:

Register for the 2025 Wilkes Climate Summit!

Featured Keynote Speakers

See the Schedule

Graduate Student Prizes: First Prize: $1500 Second Prize: $1000 Third Prize: $500 People’s Choice Awards (2): $500 each

Undergraduate Student Prizes: First Prize: $1500 Second Prize: $1000 Third Prize: $500 People’s Choice Awards (2): $500 each

Student Information

Wilkes Climate Summit Code of Conduct

2025 Wilkes Climate Summit Survey

Revisit the 2024 Wilkes Climate Summit at the University of Utah

Revisit the inaugural 2023 Wilkes Climate Summit at the University of Utah

Graduate Student Prizes:
First Prize: $1500
Second Prize: $1000
Third Prize: $500
People’s Choice Awards (2): $500 each

Undergraduate Student Prizes:
First Prize: $1500
Second Prize: $1000
Third Prize: $500
People’s Choice Awards (2): $500 each

Wilkes Climate Summit
Code of Conduct