Challenging multidisciplinary teams of undergraduate and graduate students to offer unique solutions to modern marine energy challenges

Across four sessions, the conference will explore why existing economic frameworks—often built on assumptions of global cooperation, free trade, and exogenous growth unrelated to energy use—fail to account for these rising tensions and the non-linear risks associated with stranded assets and energy costs.

Hosted by the Herb Kelleher Entrepreneurship Center, the Forty Acres Founders Pitch Competition Finals features four top student startups pitching for $20,000 in grant funding!

The BEST Symposium will be held virtually from July 27–29, 2026. This industrial research career conference, sponsored by Dow, is designed to introduce underrepresented U.S. doctoral and postdoctoral scientists to the wide range of rewarding careers in industrial research, including the many opportunities available at Dow – one of the world’s leading materials science companies. The conference, developed jointly by Dow’s minority scientists and PhD recruiting team, reflects Dow’s strong commitment to building and sustaining a diverse scientific workforce.