Global Energy: Sufficiency and Sustainability
5th Annual Global Business Forum

View the Forum presentations here!

Baylor University
McBride Center for International Business

March 21-30, 2011

The International Energy Agency has stated it officially: we are living in an time of "unprecedented uncertainty." Strained by the global financial crisis, climate change, environmental disasters in the Gulf of Mexico and elsewhere, political instability in energy-producing countries, political polarization in consuming countries, the rise of China and a wave of new technologies, the outlook for global energy supply and demand is, indeed, uncertain.

During the next 20 years, how will we satisfy the growing appetites of advanced, emerging, and developing economies for secure and sustainable sources of energy?

What will be the evolving mix of fossil fuels, nuclear, wind, marine, geothermal, biomass and other sources of power?

What contributions can we expect from new developments in nanotechnology, fuel cells, storage batteries, photovoltaics, insulating and thermoelectric materials, and nuclear fusion?

In the wake of the financial crisis, are capital markets, public entities, and micro-lending institutions prepared to support the investments that are needed to secure our energy future?

How can we broaden the scope of global energy cooperation and reduce the danger of international conflict?

For our 5th Global Business Forum, we will assemble specialists from the academic, business, and public policy communities to explore these and other questions related to the sufficiency and sustainability of global energy resources.

Students and faculty from Baylor and other universities, energy and sustainability professionals, business executives and public officials are invited to attend. The District Export Councils of Texas will be among our special guests.

Questions concerning the conference program may be directed to Steve Gardner, Director of the McBride Center for International Business (steve_gardner@baylor.edu phone: 254-710-6147). Questions concerning attendance, travel, accommodations, and other arrangements may be directed to Julie LaStrape, the Program Manager for the McBride Center (julie_lastrape@baylor.edu phone: 254-710-6048).