We believe the key to a better future is listening to and understanding the perspectives of others. This week we asked Kali Taylor, executive director and founder of Student Energy, a non-profit organization dedicated to creating the next generation of energy leaders, to be our guest blogger, responding to our questions about how to engage young leaders in the future of energy. We thank Kali for taking the time to answer our questions.
The views, opinions and positions expressed are those of the author and don't necessarily reflect those of Suncor.
Photo Credit: Student Energy
What was the motivation behind starting Student Energy?
Globally, we are setting targets and looking at sustainable development out to 2030 and 2050 time horizons. The leaders that are currently setting these targets will not be the ones who will be responsible for tactically achieving them. This is a big challenge and discrepancy. It is crucial that we build capacity in the next generation of people so that they are equipped to transition the world to a sustainable energy future.
There are a number of groups aimed at mobilizing young leaders. What sets Student Energy apart?
There are three main things that make Student Energy different. We are:
1) Global – Student Energy serves the world’s post secondary students and currently has a network of students in over 60 countries. We feel it is crucial that energy literacy is approached from a macro, international level. The actions of any one region will have impacts across the globe and it is crucial that we all realize the part we play in global energy systems and dynamics.
2) Multidisciplinary – We believe that working in silos will not lead to the creative solutions needed to transition the world to a sustainable energy future. We strongly encourage students to learn about energy from perspectives outside of their own field of expertise so they can be better leaders in the future. If you are an engineer, learn the business side and if you are a politician learn about technology!
3) Balanced – Topics around energy tend to be polarized with opinions and contradicting information making it difficult for the public to discern what is the “truth”. Student Energy takes the approach that when people have more information and can see various perspectives they are able to think critically about the issues and come up with solutions. We don’t advocate for particular policies, technologies or practices, instead we encourage students to learn as much as they can and determine what makes the most sense in any given set of circumstances.
What does success look like for Student Energy in 2030?
We truly hope to be the consolidated voice of students and young leaders on energy issues, challenges and opportunities. Not only do we want to create the most educated, passionate and connected group of people to ever enter the industry, we also want to facilitate their participation and meaningful engagement in global energy discussions, negotiation and decision-making.
The Walrus Talks Energy
Tune in to OSQAR blog tomorrow, April 4 at 4 p.m. MT / 6 p.m. ET to watch our online broadcast of the Walrus Talks Energy speaker series and hear Kali present live from the stage.
