Rice Sustainability Institute

Wrapping up an insightful week at CERAWeek 2025 The final full day was packed with groundbreaking discussions on materials innovation, industrial decarbonization, and the future of AI in energy. Some key highlights: —Bryan Hassin (DexMat) kicked off the morning at Agora Pod, emphasizing why advanced carbon materials are essential for building resilient and sustainable economies. —Aditya Mohite explored plasma foundry technology and its potential for scalable industrial decarbonization. —Matteo Pasquali contributed to two critical sessions: ? A NextGen Amphitheater talk on how academia and environmental philanthropy view the state of industrial decarbonization ? A Strategic Roundtable at the Executive Conference on materials transition, tackling the future of conductive, sustainable materials —Paul Cherukuri engaged in a compelling discussion on the state of clean energy innovation, weighing the trade-offs between speed and sustainability. —Shrivastava Anshumali closed the day with insights on university-driven AI innovations and their impact on the next wave of energy advancements. From AI and clean tech to material science and industrial sustainability, CERAWeek once again demonstrated the power of collaboration in shaping the future of energy. What were your biggest takeaways from this year’s sessions? Rice University | Rice Sustainability Institute | Rice University School of Engineering and Computing | Carbon Hub at Rice University | Rice Innovation | Rice Nexus #CERAWeek #EnergyInnovation #Sustainability #Decarbonization #AI #CleanTech #RiceSustainability #CarbonHub

Starting today! March 14-16 – The Texas Biodiversity Symposium is happening at Rice University! Join leading researchers, conservationists, and policymakers as they tackle urgent biodiversity challenges across Texas. ?? Featuring a keynote by Rae Wynn-Grant, PhD — Wildlife Ecologist, TV Presenter, Author, Speaker, and Co-host of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom: Protecting the Wild! Don’t miss her insights on conservation and biodiversity. ?? Learn more: https://lnkd.in/e_4CPEBV #TexasBiodiversity #Sustainability #RiceSustainability #Conservation #RiceUniversity #Biodiversity #TexasWildlife #Ecology #EnvironmentalScience #ClimateAction #NatureConservation #WildlifeProtection #HabitatRestoration #BiodiversityMatters #ScienceForChange

?? CERAWeek Day 3 Wrap-Up: Rice at the Climate Hub ?? Yesterday at CERAWeek, Ramamoorthy Ramesh, Executive Vice President for Research at Rice University, took the stage at the Climate Hub to challenge conventional thinking in his session on the "Primary Energy Fallacy." His insights sparked important conversations on redefining how we measure and transition energy systems. Meanwhile, at the Rice University NextGen Nexus Innovation Agora kiosk, Rice faculty and researchers—Dr. Sanjoy Paul, Adrian Tr?mel, Scott Irby, Aditya Mohite, and Carrie Masiello—engaged in dynamic discussions on cutting-edge energy innovations and sustainability solutions. As the week continues, Rice remains at the center of big ideas and bold solutions shaping the future of energy. Stay tuned for more insights from CERAWeek! Materials Science and NanoEngineering - Rice University | Rice University | Rice Sustainability Institute | Earth Science, Rice University | Rice University School of Engineering and Computing | Rice Real Estate Company #CERAWeek #ClimateHub #RiceAtCERAWeek #EnergyInnovation #NextGenNexus #Sustainability #FutureOfEnergy #RiceSustainability

Tomorrow, March 13 at #CERAWeek: Join Rice University professor and #REINVENTS Director Aditya Mohite at the NextGen Lyceum Lab at 9:30 AM for a talk on the Plasma Foundry, a 1:1 customized accelerator at Rice University driving scalable industrial decarbonization and the production of nationally relevant materials. This session is part of the Innovation Agora program. After the session, stop by the Rice NextGen kiosk to learn more about how Rice University's REINVENTS initiative can help companies develop and accelerate scalable solutions for energy security and build a talent workstream. #EnergyTransition #EnergyTech #Innovation https://lnkd.in/gvMna26m

?? Day Two at CERAWeek: Innovation, Carbon Solutions & Nature-Based Strategies ?? From startups rethinking emissions to the future of the carbon economy, Day Two at CERAWeek was packed with insights from Rice-affiliated leaders: ?? Ryan DuChanois (Solidec) kicked off the day discussing low-cost, low-carbon chemicals from air, pushing the boundaries of emissions-free fuels and chemicals. ?? Matteo Pasquali of the Carbon Hub at Rice University led a Carbon Hub spotlight, showcasing how this public-private partnership is driving a sustainable carbon economy through cutting-edge materials innovation. He was joined by an expert panel: — David Hatrick (Huntsman Corporation) – VP of Strategic Marketing & Innovation — Paul Markwell (S&P Global) – Senior Associate, CERAWeek — Jeffrey Miller (The Kavli Foundation) – Science Program Officer for Nanoscience — Dhaval Shah (SABIC) – General Manager for Corporate Technology & Innovation ?? Carrie Masiello explored the value of nature-based solutions for CO? removal, highlighting research on leveraging natural processes to enhance carbon sequestration. ?? Haotian Wang introduced next-gen electrolyzers, demonstrating how they can revolutionize carbon capture, chemical manufacturing, and critical metal recovery. A high-impact day of discussions on sustainability, technology, and the future of energy. ??? Rice University | Rice Sustainability Institute | Carbon Hub at Rice University | Rice University Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering | Rice University School of Engineering and Computing | Rice University School of Natural Sciences #CERAWeek #Sustainability #EnergyTransition #CarbonInnovation #RiceUniversity #RiceSustainability #CarbonHub

Day one at?#CERAWeek?in the books! ?? From deep dives in the startup pod at the Nexus to thought-provoking discussions at the Climate Hub, plus meet & greets, office hours at our kiosk, and wrapping it all up with a well-earned reception. Stay tuned for more insights, connections, and sustainability in action! ? ? ? #energyinnovation?#sustainability?#RSIatCERAWeek?#riceuniversity?#ricesustainability

Rice at CERAWeek 2025 Hang with the cool kids at the?Rice Kiosk?on?Innovators Row?(Level 3, Clean Energy Commons)! Connect with Rice experts, explore cutting-edge sustainability research, and join the conversation on the future of energy. See you there! ? #CERAWeek #EnergyInnovation #RiceUniversity #RiceSustainability

?? Rice Startups to Showcase Transformative Energy Technologies at CERAWeek ? CERAWeek 2025 is gearing up to be a powerhouse of innovation, bringing together global energy leaders to shape the future of sustainability and decarbonization. Rice University will be front and center, with several Rice-affiliated startups showcasing cutting-edge technologies designed to transform the energy landscape. Solidec – Advancing electrolysis for producing emission-free chemicals and fuels from air. DexMat – Innovating lightweight, high-performance carbon nanotube materials as a sustainable alternative to traditional metal wiring. Universal Matter Inc. – Pioneering sustainable graphene production to revolutionize material science and energy storage. Syzygy Plasmonics – Developing photocatalysis technology for cleaner hydrogen production and lower emissions. These ventures, led by Rice innovators, exemplify the university’s commitment to addressing critical energy challenges through technology and entrepreneurship. Their presence at CERAWeek offers a key opportunity to engage with industry leaders, investors, and policymakers. ?? Energy Venture Day & Pitch Competition – March 12 Rice will also play a pivotal role in Energy Venture Day & Pitch Competition, hosted by the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship in collaboration with the Houston Energy Transition Initiative (HETI) and TEX-E. This event will feature 36 energy ventures pitching breakthrough solutions in efficiency and decarbonization to a panel of industry experts and investors. Prizes include: ? Cash awards for top startups ? A chance to advance to the Startup World Cup Competition in San Francisco ? $50,000 in TEX-E Prize funding for student-led ventures ?? Want a sneak peek? A free pitch preview will be held at Ion Houston on March 11 — register now — here: https://lnkd.in/gY2vJ-Xr #CERAWeek #EnergyInnovation #RiceUniversity #Startups #Sustainability #EnergyTransition #Entrepreneurship #RiceSustainability

The Rice Sustainability Institute was proud to cohost journalist and researcher Peter Schwartzstein as he explored the links between climate change and global conflicts, drawing from his new book, "The Heat and the Fury: On the Frontlines of Climate Violence".

?? Don't miss Fiber Futures tomorrow! ?? Join us March 7, 2025, at Rice School of Architecture for a hands-on symposium where global innovators in sustainable construction will share cutting-edge strategies for lowering embodied carbon. Discover how plant-based materials are shaping the future of design — right here in Houston.