Rice Energy Program

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Rice Energy Program

The Rice Energy Program (REP) is a multi-disciplinary program that includes activities addressing energy science and technology policy and research on emerging energy technologies, environmental implications of energy production and use, and sustainable strategies for fulfilling the world's energy needs. Building on the highly successful Energy Forum created by the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, the Rice Energy Program is supported by both the Baker Institute and the Environmental and Energy Systems Institute (EESI).

Since its founding in 1993, the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy has become a leading institution advancing effective foreign and domestic policy. One of the hallmarks of the Institute's early years has been its independent research program on energy issues. The mission of the Energy Forum is to promote the development of informed and realistic public policy choices in the energy area by educating policy makers and the public about important trends -both regional and global-that shape the nature of global energy markets and influence the quantity and security of vital supplies needed to fuel world economic growth and prosperity.

Drawing on Rice University's interdisciplinary expertise in environmental engineering, energy sustainability, economics, political science, history, geology, nanoscience, and anthropology, the Baker Institute Energy Forum has published eight major studies on energy policy since its inception in 1996. Topics have included the political, social, and cultural trends in the Persian Gulf, Caspian Basin, and Russia; the future energy needs of China, Japan, and Latin America; oil geopolitics, energy security, energy industry deregulation, emerging energy technologies, and U.S. energy policy.

The interdisciplinary nature of the Energy Forum has lent itself to close collaboration with the Environmental & Energy Systems Institute (EESI) which promotes education, research, and community service activities at Rice in the areas of environment and energy. The Institute includes faculty and students in the Schools of Social Sciences, Engineering, Natural Sciences, Humanities, Architecture, and Management. EESI fosters partnerships between academia, business, governments, nongovernmental organizations and community groups to help meet society's needs for sustainable energy, environmental protection, economic development, and public health and safety.

Several centers at Rice University operate under the auspices of EESI, including the Center for Biological & Environmental Nanotechnology (CBEN),and the Center for the Study of Environment & Society (CSES).

The Rice Energy Program promotes collaborative, multi-disciplinary research to address global energy issues. The program currently supports projects in 13 departments and 5 centers in the areas of nanotechnology and energy, carbon capture and sequestration, and gas hydrates.