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The Future of AI, Data Centers and the Energy Transition
April 28 at 9:45 AM - 10:45 AM
FreeAI is transforming the world, but at what cost to our energy systems? As demand for computing power surges, data centers are becoming one of the most consequential frontiers in the energy transition. Dr. Chan’s talk will unpack how emerging technologies, smarter design, and bold innovation can redefine data centers as engines of efficiency, sustainability, and progress.
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Vanessa Z. Chan
Jonathan and Linda Brassington Practice Professor Materials Science and Engineering, Vice Dean of Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Vanessa Chan is an accomplished entrepreneur, angel investor, speaker and educator renowned for her expertise in innovation and entrepreneurship at the intersection of technology and business. She is the inaugural Vice Dean of Innovation & Entrepreneurship at the University of Pennsylvania’s Engineering School and the Jonathan & Linda Brassington Professor of Practice. Under President Biden, Vanessa served as the Chief Commercialization Officer at the U.S. Department of Energy and the Director of the Office of Technology Transitions. In this role, she was instrumental in nationally advancing clean energy technologies, notably through the “Pathways to Commercial Liftoff” reports, which provided roadmaps for decarbonizing various sectors, including geothermal and hydrogen. Her impact was recognized through her inclusion as one of the world’s 100 most influential business leaders in climate in Time100’s 2024 list.