Inspiring Future Leaders on Climate Innovation Day

Visiting high school students pose for a group photo. [Image Credit: Inside Education]

On November 21, Future Energy Systems welcomed 55 high school students to the University of Alberta campus as part of Inside Education’s Climate Innovation Day. Students toured two of our laboratories to discover energy storage innovations, renewables, and grid technologies.

Postdoctoral fellow Xiaoting Wang, PhD (right), demonstrates the benefits of energy storage in stabilizing the grid. Inside Dr. Ryan Li’s lab, students explored the demands on our energy grid imposed by charging electric vehicles, the use of artificial intelligence (AI), and more. 

During lunch, students engaged with presenters from the University of Alberta and the City of Edmonton on the topic of climate change, sharing their own ideas for creating a climate change-resilient Edmonton. One student came up after the final presentation to ask about the University of Alberta’s engineering program requirements, already eager to apply. 

Matt Labbe, PhD (a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Douglas Ivey’s research group) teaches students about different types of batteries. [Image Credit: Inside Education] 

“Students loved the demos in the energy storage lab,” said Ilana Music, program coordinator for Inside Education. “We [also] had some great discussions regarding the role of AI technology in energy during our debrief.” 

Thank you to our fantastic FES researchers (Matt Labbe, Xiaoting Wang, Mariam Mughees, Kamila Moquin, Yuzhuo Li, and more) for inspiring these future climate leaders! After such an exciting day of learning from engineers, scientists, and climate advocates, we wouldn’t be surprised to see some familiar faces on campus in 2026.

Climate Innovation Day - Inspiring Education - 2024