Book Talk – Entropy Economics: The Living Basis of Value and Production Speakers: James K. Galbraith | Lloyd M. Bentsen Jr. Chair in Government / Business Relations, LBJ School of Public Affairs, and Professor of Government, The University of Texas at Austin Jing Chen | Assistant Professor, Finance, University of Northern British Columbia
The Uniqueness of a Municipal Utility’s Resiliency Program and How It Fits Into the ERCOT Competitive Wholesale Market. Speaker: Julia Black | Energy Development Program Manager-Resiliency as a Service, Austin Energy.
Nuclear Niche Virtual Event with Dillon Allen For our next student Nuclear Niche session, we’re excited to host Dillon Allen, President of Solestiss, for a webinar discussing the current state of nuclear energy – what is actually being built, what challenges remain, and what it takes to execute projects in today’s market. Event Details: Date: Tuesday, February 3, 2026 Time: 12–1 PM Link to join webinar: https://lnkd.in/gEgPzkiJ Dillon brings firsthand experience across the full lifecycle of nuclear development, including finance, project development, construction, and policy. Solestiss is actively involved in multiple nuclear builds across the United States, offering a grounded perspective on the opportunities and constraints shaping the industry’s next chapter. If you are interested in understanding the realities of nuclear deployment – beyond hype – this conversation will provide a candid and informed perspective. Questions, comments concerns can be directed to Dani Zigon, Director of Strategic Initiatives for Nuclear and Radiation Engineering at daniellezigon@austin.utexas.edu.
Nuclear Niche In Person Event with NETL Tour Nuclear Niche — a place where interdisciplinary students can come, network with industry experts, and talk about the full suite of deployment barriers (including technology, business, policy, talent, and legal challenges) we face ahead of us as an industry. Co-sponsored with the KBH Center and our UT American Nuclear Society Student Chapter. There’s potentially an opportunity for a UT reactor tour field trip at this event. Speaker: NETL Tour Topic: Real reactor Location: UT Reactor, Pickle Campus Date: Tuesday, April 14th, 2026 Time: 5-7PM Questions, comments concerns can be directed to Dani Zigon, Director of Strategic Initiatives for Nuclear and Radiation Engineering at daniellezigon@austin.utexas.edu. REGISTER YOUR INTEREST IN THE NUCLEAR NICHE
Nuclear Niche In Person Event With Isabelle Boemeke Nuclear Niche — a place where interdisciplinary students can come, network with industry experts, and talk about the full suite of deployment barriers (including technology, business, policy, talent, and legal challenges) we face ahead of us as an industry. Co-sponsored with the KBH Center and our UT American Nuclear Society Student Chapter. Topic: Advocacy Location: Rowling 5.210 Date: Tuesday, March 24th, 2026 Time: 5:30-7PM No registration for this event is required – see you there! Questions, comments concerns can be directed to Dani Zigon, Director of Strategic Initiatives for Nuclear and Radiation Engineering at daniellezigon@austin.utexas.edu. REGISTER YOUR INTEREST IN THE NUCLEAR NICHE
Nuclear Niche In Person Event – Aalo Tour Nuclear Niche — a place where interdisciplinary students can come, network with industry experts, and talk about the full suite of deployment barriers (including technology, business, policy, talent, and legal challenges) we face ahead of us as an industry. Co-sponsored with the KBH Center and our UT American Nuclear Society Student Chapter. Speaker: Aalo Location: Off-Site Date: Friday, February 20th, 2026 Time: 10AM-11:30AM Questions, comments concerns can be directed to Dani Zigon, Director of Strategic Initiatives for Nuclear and Radiation Engineering at daniellezigon@austin.utexas.edu. REGISTER YOUR INTEREST IN THE NUCLEAR NICHE
Nuclear Niche In Person Event with Jarred Shaffer – Jan 28 THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED DUE TO THE UNIVERSITY’S CLOSURE. STAY TUNED FOR UPDATES. Nuclear Niche — a place where interdisciplinary students can come, network with industry experts, and talk about the full suite of deployment barriers (including technology, business, policy, talent, and legal challenges) we face ahead of us as an industry. Co-sponsored with the KBH Center and our UT American Nuclear Society Student Chapter. Speaker: Jarred Shaffer Topic: TX Nuclear Policy Location: Rowling 5.210 Date: Tuesday, January 28th, 2026 Time: 5:30-7PM Questions, comments concerns can be directed to Dani Zigon, Director of Strategic Initiatives for Nuclear and Radiation Engineering at daniellezigon@austin.utexas.edu. REGISTER NOW
Nuclear Niche: Speaker Event October 16th – Kairos Power Nuclear Niche— a place where interdisciplinary students can come, network with industry experts, and talk about the full suite of deployment barriers (including technology, business, policy, talent, and legal challenges) we face ahead of us as an industry. The first event will be co-sponsored with the KBH Center and our UT American Nuclear Society Student Chapter. We will be welcoming Evan Cummings, Senior Director of Business Development at Kairos Power to speak on the commercialization challenges for advanced nuclear reactors and how to bring them to market. If you’re interested in how we develop the market and sell these reactors to customers, this is the talk for you! He’ll speak for about 30 minutes with plenty of time for student driven Q&A after. Food will be provided. Friends welcome. Speaker: Evan Cummings, Senior Director of Business Development at Kairos Power Location: ETC 3.112 Date: Thursday, October 16th, 2025 Time: 6P-7P CT Food will be provided. Questions, comments concerns can be directed to Dani Zigon, Director of Strategic Initiatives for Nuclear and Radiation Engineering at daniellezigon@austin.utexas.edu. REGISTER NOW
Clean Energy Beers Organized by CleanTX and UT Austin, Clean Energy Beers is an informal gathering for professionals, students, faculty, inventors, investors, employers and prospective employees who care about clean energy. There is no agenda or expectations (and you have to buy your own food and drinks). It’s a great way to meet some people who care about the same things as you. No registration is required. Date(s): First Monday of each month (except some holidays)) Time: 6 pm until people leave (live music starts at 7 pm) Where: Back patio (weather permitting), Green Mesquite BBQ, 1400 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704 Who’s invited? You! And whoever you want to bring.