Loyola Marymount University recently hosted the LMU Conference for Electrical Engineering and Green Energy (CEEGE), in partnership with the 7th International CEEGE conference. The event showcased the university’s commitment to environmental sustainability in the classroom, throughout campus, and in the community.
The conference, organized by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, LMU External Relations, and CSJ Center for Reconciliation and Justice, with corporate sponsor Siemens, attracted a diverse audience, including representatives from the mayor’s office, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, academic and industry professionals specializing in the topic, college students conducting research on climate change, and high school students participating in the Upward Bound program.
Program contributor and CNN Anchor John Vause kicked off the symposium with a message of urgency about finding climate change solutions, citing the many missteps in policy made by lawmakers over the past decade who refused to acknowledge that changes in weather were caused by man-made practices.
“It’s an easy mistake confusing ‘weather’ with climate, and denial was so much easier back then, but now as the warmings of extreme weather turn into reality, denial has become delay,” Vause said in his pre-recorded video message. “And this is where the rubber hits the road for green energy. If we can rise above the worst of human nature and embrace the best, maybe it’s not too late to give our future a fighting chance.”
Jie Xu, professor and chair of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at LMU Seaver College of Science and Engineering and one of the event organizers, emphasized the urgency of addressing climate change. “The future of humanity depends on whether we can effectively slow down and ultimately reverse the consequences of climate change in a timely fashion. We all live on the same planet, so the issue of climate change, sustainability, and how we can best utilize green and renewable energy concerns everyone,” he said.
The conference provided a platform for attendees to gain increased knowledge about climate policies, to network with industry leaders, and to explore innovative solutions and collaborations in the field of green energy. It also offered policymakers the opportunity to collaborate with industry leaders, academics, and community members to develop and refine policies that support sustainable development and effective decarbonization strategies.
Visiting professor of Physics Rajiv Uttamchandani, a key event organizer, said the connection among industry professionals, city officials, and the interested public made it a unique and worthwhile conference for all in attendance.
C.J. Nord, who runs Supply Chains for Good, attended the conference to network with entrepreneurs interested in promoting green energy. Her profit-driven campaign, “There’s cash in that trash,” has been well received by elected representatives and trade associations, including the Woodworkers Association, which recently adopted a no-waste disposal plan implemented by her company.
Nord’s mission is to “save the world with supply chain improvements.” Her experience at LMU CEEGE, she said, was a heartening display of like-minded people showing up to promote green energy and sustainable jobs.
“You have to be more persistent than the problem,” Nord said.
One notable panel discussion on green technologies and renewable energy policies in large metropolitan areas included Steve Baule, executive officer in the LA mayor’s Office of Energy & Water; Jo Tavares, director of the California Center for Climate Change Education; Anthony Brower, global director at Gensler; and Jason Rondou, chief of staff at Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.
Brower cited existing low-tech solutions as a good way forward, suggesting some of the problems we face might already have workarounds, to which Rondou agreed, adding LA’s unique opportunity to utilize rooftop space and the sprawl that makes the city different than other large metropolitan areas. Baule emphasized that while there are challenges with policy and legislation, equity is a top priority for the Mayor’s Office.
The group discussed challenges and successes of moving Los Angeles into more sustainable practices, including a Q&A period where they directly addressed student and industry attendees’ concerns.
“One of the goals of our event was to provide a platform to allow people from different aspects of the society to have a conversation, which we succeeded in achieving,” Xu said. “The younger members of the society hold great influence in the process of achieving sustainability. Only with them and their participation do we hold the true power to innovate and to shape the future.”
Learn more about the conference: cse.lmu.edu/ceege.
