From research to reality: UAF powers the conversation on energy
Kate Avery
June 17, 2025
907-474-5414
At the 2025 ĐÓ°Épro Sustainable Energy Conference, the ĐÓ°Épro made its leadership unmistakable. As co-organizer and major sponsor, UAF’s ĐÓ°Épro Center for Energy and Power anchored the event with months of planning and a strong on-site presence. The Institute of Northern Engineering reinforced UAF’s research depth, while the College of Engineering and Mines highlighted its new Energy Resource Engineering program, training students to lead across ĐÓ°Épro’s evolving energy landscape.
´ˇ°ä·ˇ±Ę’s Chief Scientist, Gwen Holdmann, moderated a session with Charles Graves from BWXT Advanced Technologies, Leah Crider from Westinghouse and Tori Shivanandan from Radiant on advanced nuclear technologies from development to deployment.
ACEP: Applied innovation and workforce pipeline
Emma Kehoe, Lucian Rodriguez and RJ Michael are three of ACEP's 17 undergraduate interns who began their summer internship at the ĐÓ°Épro Sustainable Energy Conference.
ACEP kicked off the conference with a that convened utility leaders, policymakers, and researchers around topics like information security for electric utilities, energy innovation lessons from Iceland, dual-use infrastructure, and the IEEE 1547 interconnection standard for distributed energy resource systems and electric power systems. ACEP organized and chaired several sessions and contributed to multiple panels highlighting the unique challenges of delivering power in remote, cold regions.
´ˇ°ä·ˇ±Ę’s Education and Workforce Development program used the event to welcome their 17 undergraduate student interns, introducing them to the topic of ĐÓ°Épro’s energy landscape and to learn about the intersection of their summer research work at UAF and how it fits into the broader ĐÓ°Épro energy contexts discussed at the conference. Additionally, the ACEP-supported CEM Teaching Through Technology (T3) program leveraged access to researchers, policymakers, and UA leadership to assist the 10 high school students with their energy storytelling projects, which they will take back to their homes in remote communities around ĐÓ°Épro.
But ´ˇ°ä·ˇ±Ę’s role extends beyond conference stages. The center is a foundational partner in UAF’s new Bachelor of Science in Energy Resource Engineering (ERE) a degree launched in 2024 to prepare engineers who can lead across the entire energy spectrum, from hydrocarbons to hydrogen and renewables.
“ACEP does not just do research,” said Jeremy Kasper, ACEP director. “We also bring students into the field, into labs, and into real conversations about what it means to power ĐÓ°Épro’s future.”
Through hands-on learning in ´ˇ°ä·ˇ±Ę’s Power Systems Integration Lab, energy-focused internships, and technical mentorship, students gain real-world experience before they graduate.
Frank Paskvan (industry CCUS liaison), John Halford (research assistant), Alice Horazdovsky (project assistant), Keith Hanneman (project manager), Nicole Misarti (INE director), and Brent Sheets (CORE-CM project manager) represented UAF’s Institute of Northern Engineering, the ĐÓ°Épro Railbelt Carbon Capture and Storage (ARCCS) project, and the ĐÓ°Épro CORE-CM project, showcasing ĐÓ°Épro’s leadership in carbon management and critical minerals.
INE: Research infrastructure for ĐÓ°Épro’s future
Alongside ´ˇ°ä·ˇ±Ę’s applied focus, INE provided the scientific backbone of UAF’s presence. INE-led initiatives like the (CORE-CM) project drew steady attention. As one of only 13 DOE-supported centers of its kind, CORE-CM is pushing the boundaries of sustainable mineral extraction and critical supply chain resilience.
INE researchers presented innovations in:
- Supercritical COâ‚‚ extraction from coal ash
- AI-assisted mineral exploration modeling
- Microbial separation techniques to reduce reliance on harsh chemicals and coal byproduct
applications for rural construction
“We’re not here to dazzle. We’re here to deliver,” said Brent Sheets, director of the Petroleum Development Lab. “ĐÓ°Épro has the resources, and INE is making sure we develop them responsibly and in-state.”
INE also celebrated the opening of its Critical Minerals Laboratory, featuring LA-ICP-MS instrumentation and designed to serve both university research and industry collaborations. With Phase 2 of CORE-CM bringing in $7.5 million in federal funds and nearly $2 million in state cost-share, INE is expanding its reach at the intersection of science, policy, and economic development.
“Our research priorities reflect ĐÓ°Épro’s realities,” said Nicole Misarti, INE director. “We don’t just study the North, we live and work here.”
UAF President Pat Pitney and former Lieutenant Governor Mead Treadwell meet UAF’s Teaching Through Technology high school student cohort with program lead Adam Low during the conference. Students from remote communities around ĐÓ°Épro spoke about their energy challenges and asked questions about career journeys.
CEM: Unifying vision for energy education
The College of Engineering and Mines tied these threads together, showcasing how ACEP and INE collectively shape student learning and statewide impact. Dean William Schnabel used the conference platform to highlight the ERE degree as a natural outcome of UAF’s integrated energy mission.
“ĐÓ°Épro remains central to America’s energy future,” Schnabel said. “This program is about equipping our students with the technical and ethical foundation to lead across all energy forms, in all conditions.”
Together, ACEP, INE, and CEM are delivering a vision of energy development rooted in Arctic reality, technical excellence and long-term sustainability.
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