The Sustainability Institute is excited to announce the inaugural Sustainable Energy Accelerator (SEA) — launching this Autumn 2025 in partnership with the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council (NOPEC). This unique, week-long program invites interdisciplinary teams of 4–5 Ohio State students to tackle a real-world energy challenge currently facing NOPEC during the week of November 3 – 7, 2025. The SEA is a hands-on opportunity to collaborate, innovate, and compete for a prize — while working toward a more sustainable energy future.
Why participate?
- Work on a real, high-impact energy problem
- Collaborate across disciplines and degree levels
- Each member of the top team will receive $500 in BuckID cash
Team requirements:
- Must include at least one undergraduate and one graduate student
- Must represent at least three different academic units
If you're interested in participating but don’t have a team yet, you can still register — we’ll help match you with other students.
Sustainable Energy Accelerator Schedule:
- Monday, November 3 | 10:00 – 11:30 AM (In Person) - Welcome event and challenge overview with NOPEC
- Wednesday, November 5 | 20-minute Virtual Appointment - Each team will meet with NOPEC for feedback
- Friday, November 7 | 9:30 – 11:30 AM (In Person) - Final presentations (15-minute presentation, 5-minute Q&A for each group)
Note: Teams are expected to work independently outside of these scheduled events in order to develop their solutions.
Interested in participating?
Spots are limited—register before October 15, 2025 to ensure your spot!
If you have any questions, please reach out to Katie Zimmerman.