The 2025 Wilkes Climate Summit, held May 15th at the Eccles Alumni House at the University of Utah, convened leading policymakers, and nationally-recognized scientists, foundations, and innovators to discuss the most promising and cutting-edge solutions for climate change.





















Watch the morning keynote and prize finalist presentations
Watch the Student research lightning talks
See the Schedule
<a id="sched-embed" href="//2025wilkessummit.sched.com/">View the 2025 Wilkes Climate Summit schedule & directory.</a><script type="text/javascript" src="//2025wilkessummit.sched.com/js/embed.js"></script>
Directions and Parking Information
<p>Free public parking will be available for attendees during the summit in the locations indicated on this map. The address of the Eccles Alumni House is 155 Central Campus Dr, Salt Lake City, UT 84112.</p>
<p>? Due to ongoing campus construction during summer 2025, routes and access to the Eccles Alumni House will be impacted. 100 South will be under construction, so please plan to approach the venue from the south via Mario Capecchi Drive and South Wasatch Drive route to access the Alumni House. More information regarding parking at the Eccles alumni House<a href="https://ecclesalumnihouse.utah.edu/directions-parking/"> is available here</a>.</p>
<p>[caption id="attachment_7405" align="alignleft" width="640"]<a href="https://wilkescenter.utah.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/42/2025/05/2025-summit-parking-map.jpg"><img class="wp-image-7405 size-large" src="https://wilkescenter.utah.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/42/2025/05/2025-summit-parking-map-791x1024.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="829" /></a> Screenshot[/caption]</p>
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Student Posters Information
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Wilkes Center-funded graduate and undergraduate students will showcase their climate-related research projects and compete for cash prizes at the annual Wilkes Summit!</span></p>
<h4><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Student Prizes:</strong><br />
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">First Prize: $1500<br />
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Second Prize: $1000<br />
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Third Prize: $500<br />
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">People’s Choice Awards (2): $500 each</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></h4>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">All attendees of the Wilkes Summit are invited to vote on their favorite posters throughout the Wilkes Summit. Student researchers are expected to be in attendance during the main exhibition period. Poster printing is available at no cost to students thanks to our generous donors, Clay and Marie Wilkes.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Prizes will be awarded for best posters in either the graduate research or 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 </span></p>
<h4><strong>Student Information</strong></h4>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Students must be the primary producer of the work in the poster.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">The poster must showcase the research project which was directly funded by the Wilkes Center.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Students are expected to attend the Wilkes Summit during the main exhibition period (May 15 12:00pm-1:00pm) 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 </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kyla.Welch@utah.edu.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Students are required to drop off their poster no later than May 14</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">th</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> at 3:00pm to the Wilkes Center in Crocker Science Center Suite 214.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Posters should be no more than 36"x 48" and must be printed through the Marriott Library Knowledge Commons Desk.</span>
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<li>Helpful tips for poster design and printing can be found through the Marriott Library <a href="http://campusguides.lib.utah.edu/c.php?g=160626&p=1051722">here</a>.</li>
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<li><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span>
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<li>Note that their printer's maximum height is 42" and you will be asked to provide a jpeg or tiff file of your poster.</li>
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Wilkes Climate Summit Code of Conduct
<h5>Wilkes Climate Summit<br />
Code of Conduct</h5>
<p><strong>Expected Behavior</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>All participants are treated with respect and consideration, valuing a diversity of views and opinions.</li>
<li>Be considerate, respectful, and collaborative.</li>
<li>Communicate openly with respect for others, critiquing ideas rather than individuals.</li>
<li>Avoid personal attacks directed toward other participants.</li>
<li>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.</li>
<li>Respect the rules and policies of the meeting venue and hotels.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Unacceptable Behavior</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Harassment, intimidation, or discrimination in any form will not be tolerated.</li>
<li>Physical or verbal abuse of any attendee, speaker, volunteer, service provider, or other meeting guest.</li>
<li>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.</li>
<li>Disruption of talks at oral or poster sessions.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Consequences</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Anyone requested to stop unacceptable behavior is expected to comply immediately.</li>
<li>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.</li>
<li>Other consequences as set forth by professional societies such as the <a href="http://ethics.agu.org/">AGU Scientific Integrity and Professional Ethics Policy</a>, as applicable.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Reporting</strong> <strong>Unacceptable Behavior</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>If you are the subject of unacceptable behavior or have witnessed any such behavior, please immediately notify a Wilkes Climate Summit organizer.</li>
<li>Notification should be done by contacting a Wilkes Climate Summit organizer on site or by emailing your concern to <a href="mailto:kyla.welch@utah.edu">kyla.welch@utah.edu</a> or <a href="mailto:ross.chambless@utah.edu">ross.chambless@utah.edu</a>.</li>
<li>Anyone experiencing or witnessing behavior that constitutes an immediate or serious threat to public safety is advised to call 911.</li>
</ul>
Post-summit Survey
<h4>2025 Wilkes Climate Summit Survey</h4>
<p>Thank you for attending our summit. Please let us know your thoughts. Your feedback will help us to improve future events. <strong><a href="https://forms.gle/AN8HNeVdiPDN4BYNA">Take our short survey</a></strong>.</p>
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Wilkes Climate Prize Finalist Presentations
Finalists for the Wilkes Climate Launch Prize at the University of Utah will pitch in-person at Wilkes Climate Summit. The Prize supports innovative ideas from organizations at all stages, both for-profits and nonprofits – anywhere in the world – to help fund and accelerate solutions to climate change.
Learn more
Student Poster Contest
Graduate and undergraduate students are invited to showcase their climate-related research projects and compete for cash prizes at the annual Wilkes Summit.
Learn more
Breakout Panel discussions
Methane,
Water innovation,
Climate and AI,
Wildfire,
Urban heat,
Winter sports
