Washington, DC - The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced that the Precourt Institute for Energy at Stanford University is joining the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Energy Initiative (MITEI) to support implementation of the DOE-led U.S. Clean Energy Education & Empowerment (C3E) program to advance women’s participation and leadership in clean energy.

Women represent substantially less than half of the workforce across the energy field; closing the gender gap is a major goal of C3E. The new collaboration with the Stanford Precourt Institute for Energy will broaden the geographic reach of the U.S. C3E program and help further raise awareness of C3E and women’s leadership in the energy sector.

The U.S. C3E program includes C3E Ambassadors, senior leaders who act as role models and advocates for women in clean energy, and an online community for women in energy called C3Enet.org. The U.S. C3E program also holds an annual C3E Women in Clean Energy Symposium designed to help women in the clean energy sector build the skills and professional networks needed to succeed. Many participants say that the symposium inspired them to take the next step in their careers, whether taking on a new leadership role or starting a clean energy business.

Each symposium features winners of the C3E Awards, which recognize the outstanding leadership and achievements of mid-career women working to advance clean energy. C3E Awards are offered in eight categories: Advocacy, Business, Education, Entrepreneurship, Government, International, Law & Finance, and Research. Nominations for the 2016 C3E Awards are currently open, with submissions due by January 8, 2016 at c3eawards.org.

Over the past four years, DOE and MITEI have collaborated on the planning and implementation of the annual awards program and symposium. That responsibility will now be shared with the Stanford Precourt Institute for Energy, which will host the event on a rotating basis. The fifth annual symposium will be held at Stanford University in May 2016, and the sixth symposium will be at MIT in 2017. This year, awardees will also be recognized at the Seventh Clean Energy Ministerial hosted by the United States in San Francisco on June 1-2, 2016.

About C3E and the U.S. C3E Program

The international C3E initiative was launched by the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) in 2010. The C3E initiative was born out of recognition that the ideas and talents of all members of society are essential to meeting our future clean energy challenges. The U.S. C3E program is part of the CEM’s C3E initiative. Additional information is available at cleanenergyministerial.org/c3e and c3eawards.org.  

About U.S. Department of Energy

The DOE mission is to ensure America’s security and prosperity by addressing its energy, environmental, and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology solutions. DOE coordinates the Clean Energy Ministerial, a 24-government forum to drive the transition to a global clean energy economy. DOE leads the C3E initiative along with several other initiatives under the auspices of the Clean Energy Ministerial. Additional information is available at cleanenergyministerial.org.

About MIT Energy Initiative

The MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI) is MIT’s hub for energy research, education, and outreach. MITEI links science, policy, and innovation to develop technologies and solutions that deliver clean, affordable, and plentiful sources of energy. Founded in 2006, MITEI’s mission is to facilitate low- and no-carbon solutions that will efficiently meet global energy needs while minimizing environmental impacts and mitigating climate change. MITEI is proud to support programs that increase and showcase diversity in the energy field, including the U.S. C3E program. Approximately one-third of MIT faculty engages in energy-related classes or research. Additional information is available at mitei.mit.edu.

About Stanford Precourt Institute for Energy

Stanford faculty and students are committed to making the world’s energy systems less vulnerable to economic, security, and environmental threats, and more capable of delivering modern energy services to the billions of people who lack them. The Stanford Precourt Institute for Energy supports and integrates the full spectrum of energy research and education, from basic science and technology to policy and business. The institute also cultivates alliances with industry, governments, civic organizations, and other research institutions to ensure that Stanford researchers and students help invent the energy future we seek. The institute values diversity and is pleased to support the U.S. C3E program. Additional information is available at energy.stanford.edu.

Join the conversation.

Connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter (@C3E_EnergyWomen). Use the hashtag #C3EWomen to share news and information with the C3E network on women’s clean energy leadership and the 2016 symposium and awards. Join C3Enet.org, our international network of women working in energy.