The interdisciplinary approach that I learned at Tufts is the foundation of my professional life — a 15-year career in the State Department and eight years in the energy sector. That same approach can be the foundation for addressing two of our most pressing national issues — energy security and climate change.
Americans rely on energy every day for the very basics of the lifestyle and freedom we embrace. How we make sure that we have the energy we need today and in the future, and how we address the impact of that energy, including climate change, will in large part determine our nation's future.
With the recognition that energy can and should come in diverse forms, and that efficiency and environmental stewardship must be a part of any energy solution, innovation is the key. That's why ConocoPhillips established the ConocoPhillips Energy Prize in 2008 — to support breakthrough advances and incremental progress that will help us use the energy we have now more efficiently; help us find and develop energy from traditional and new sources; and drive progress on climate change. Those innovations can come from anywhere — the research that companies do internally; work done by universities and institutes; and from individuals who have taken a flash of inspiration and developed a practical application that can change the way we use or produce energy.
The ConocoPhillips Energy Prize recognizes original ideas by awarding up to $300,000 to further innovations in developing new energy sources, improving energy efficiency and combating climate change.
Securing our energy future and addressing climate change are two of the greatest challenges we face. We must face them together. To solve one, we must address the other; to be successful, we all — government, industry and each of us as individuals — need to do our part.
If you have an innovative idea and want to help build our energy future, find out more about the ConocoPhillips Energy Prize at http://www.conocophillips.com/Tech/energyprize/index.htm.
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Stephen B. Morisseau (A '83) is director of strategic media and outreach at ConocoPhillips. He was a U.S. Foreign Service Officer, serving in Greece, Cyprus, Bolivia and Mexico until 2001. Since 2001, he has worked in the Houston-based energy sector. He can be reached at stephen.b.morisseau@conocophillips.com.
