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Photo submitted/Dagmar Knutson.
Central Alberta-based not-for-profit organization Ten Peaks Innovation Alliance is gearing up for the fifth annual 10Peaks Innovation Xchange (10PIX) student conference this fall.
The event is designed for youth in Grades 7 to 12 and includes 16 speakers, and two keynote sessions, with a focus on energy, environment, and climate.
“Our theme this year is biodiversity and how biodiversity and climate collaboration are going to be part of Alberta's future,” said Dagmar Knutson Executive Director of Ten Peaks Innovation Alliance.
Conference topics this year include alternative energy, conservation of energy and environment, exploring nature-based solutions, sustainability, Indigenous participation in energy evolution, and more.
During the conference, students will have an opportunity to learn about clean technology, environmental initiatives, and how to reduce energy consumption.
“We're hoping to inspire them, engage them, educate them, let them see what is going on in Alberta, what we're doing about climate change, and how we’re reducing emissions,” Knutson said.
Speakers include industry leaders from traditional oil and gas, alternative energy, climate and environment, and natural resources.
“The strength of our conference is that we have a balanced program,” Knutson said. “We're going to have excellent conversations on what's important.”
Following the presentations, students will attend breakout sessions and choose an interactive workshop.
“It's all about making it fun and engaging and we want students to ask a lot of questions,” Knutson said. “Some of the questions put the speakers on their toes.”
Knutson is the CFO of an oil and gas manufacturing company and has more than 25 years of experience working in the energy industry.
However, it was when her son began to ask questions about current innovations in the oil and gas industry that she was inspired to do more.
After emailing her son's teachers with industry innovation and technology insights she launched the student conference.
“The uptake was amazing because we had all these people from academia, not-for-profits, Indigenous leaders, and industry leaders,” Knutson said. “Every year we hold this amazing conference, and then the learning continues through the year with student-led action projects.”
The conference is on Oct. 16, at Red Door Polytechnic, and is free for students to attend, but registration is required.
Entire classes or schools are encouraged to attend, with sponsorship opportunities available for transportation and substitute teacher fees.
Students can also attend the conference virtually and listen to the keynote speakers in real-time.
Event registration opens May 1.
For more information or to register, visit the Ten Peaks website here.
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