09/24/2026

USAEE Conference | You're Invited: Student Poster Competition and Reception at the Energy Innovation Center

Presented by the Institute for Humane Studies

All who attend the 2026 USAEE North American Conference, November 15-18 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, are invited to a special student poster competition and reception at the Energy Innovation Center (EIC) on Monday evening, November 16 from 6:15 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Presented by the Institute for Humane Studies (IHS), the reception is included with conference registration. 

Register for the Conference by September 30 and Save
Register for November’s conference by Wednesday, September 30 to avoid late-registration rates and save up to $150. Once registered, be sure to book your room at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Suites Pittsburgh Downtown at USAEE’s discounted group rate of $159 per night by the October 23 group-rate deadline.

Reception guests will enjoy appetizers and drinks in the EIC's Duquesne Light Brightspace. Soaked in light and boasting an expansive view of the Pittsburgh skyline and sunsets, the Brightspace will provide a modern, elegant setting for a memorable evening with colleagues and friends.

The Institute for Humane Studies is the presenting sponsor of the reception. The IHS explores, defends, and applies the principles of a free and open society by developing and connecting leading thinkers who apply the principles of freedom to society’s most consequential questions and complex challenges.

The annual Best Student Poster Award Competition gives selected students an opportunity to showcase their work and receive recognition through dynamic, interactive poster presentations. The competition is sponsored by USAEE Senior Fellows John Holding and Robert Eric Borgstrom.

In addition to providing distinctive event spaces, the EIC, located in Pittsburgh's Lower Hill District, functions as a "living laboratory" for industry-informed education and training programs. It also brings together diverse tenants, including energy sector corporations, national energy research laboratories, community leaders, economic development organizations, and leading academic institutions.

Shuttle service will be provided between the conference hotel and the EIC, which is located less than half a mile away.

Because this year’s offsite reception will be held Monday evening, attendees are encouraged to make dinner plans for Tuesday. Those interested in hosting a dinner open to fellow conference attendees—whether centered on a professional topic, shared specialization or geographic region—may send their name, contact email address, and dinner focus to usaee@usaee.org. Dinner listings and host contact information will be posted on the USAEE website so interested attendees may contact hosts directly.

The theme for this year's conference is DISRUPTION: The State of Energy Markets in 2026 and Beyond. Sessions will address crude oil supply disruptions, large load growth in electricity markets, energy affordability, natural gas and LNG, nuclear, coal's place in the energy mix, and other vital and timely topics. Join us in Pittsburgh to hear leading subject-matter experts examine these issues against the backdrop of the extraordinary energy-market disruptions of 2026.