In light of repeating oil supply disruptions and emerging environmental pressures, the international energy industry and scientific community are looking to non-conventional solutions to confront our ongoing energy security concerns. Energy is not just a critical concern to the United States, but also a global one. Among the most important technical challenges facing the world in the 21st century is providing clean, affordable energy, whose supply is sustainable and universally available. A solution to the global energy problem will require revolutionary new technology, as well as conservation and evolutionary improvements in existing technologies.
Advancement of nanotechnology solutions can be an integral component to solving the energy problem. Breakthroughs in nanotechnology open up the possibility of moving beyond our current alternatives for energy supply by introducing technologies that are more efficient, inexpensive, and environmentally sound. The benefits of such technology will not be confined to the United States or the developed world; indeed, its impact will be greatest for the 1.6 billion individuals around the globe, most specifically the poor, who lack access to electricity and other vital energy services.
Sponsored by the James A. Baker III Institute of Rice University, the Rice University Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology (CNST), the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship, and the Rice Environmental and Energy Systems Institute (EESI).

Speakers: Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (keynote address), Wade Adams, Roger Anderson, Walter Chapman, David Criswell, Steven Currall, Gerald R. Dickens, William E. Fernald, Timothy S. Fisher, Julio Friedmann, Robert Goldston, Peter Hartley, Martin Hoffert, Thomas A. Kalil, Dean Kamen, Melanie Kenderdine, Neal Lane, Nathan S. Lewis, John Mankins, Terry Michalske, Fareed Mohamedi, Ernie Moniz, Jeremy Rifkin, Richard Russell, Wolfgang Schollnberger, Yoram Shoham, Matt Simmons, Richard Smalley, Carl Michael Smith, Kenneth R. Stroh, John Stringer, Jim Wang, William White