From Sea to Space: Power, Security, and AI Converge at Mason Energy Forum October 7

Andrew J Schappert — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 13:07:09 +0000

From Sea to Space: Power, Security, and AI Converge at Mason Energy Forum October 7 Andrew J Schappert Mon, 10/05/2026 - 09:07

Hina Kazmi

The Schar School of Policy and Government at 91�� will bring together national security, energy, technology, and regional policy experts October 7 to examine how global conflict and rapid technological change are reshaping energy policy.

The eighth annual Mason Energy Forum, “From Sea to Space: The Challenges for Energy, Trade, and National Security,” is a symposium bringing together experts from governments and key institutions to George Mason’s Van Metre Hall at Mason Square in Arlington, Virginia, on Wednesday, October 7.

Richard Kauzlarich

The daylong event runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

Sessions will explore threats to global energy supplies and trade routes, the growing electricity demands of artificial intelligence (AI) and data centers, and the potential of advanced nuclear power and space-based energy systems. A complete list of topics and speakers is available online.

The discussions have implications for household energy costs, business investment, and the infrastructure communities depend on. The forum offers policymakers, energy and technology professionals, local government leaders, students, and interested residents an opportunity to better understand these developments and the decisions ahead.

Ellen Laipson

Distinguished Visiting Professor Richard Kauzlarich is codirector of the Schar School’s Center for Energy Science Policy (CESP), which is cosponsoring the symposium with the Schar School’s Center for Security Policy Studies (CSPS), directed by Professor Ellen Laipson. Aerospace expert and Schar School adjunct Hina Kazmi organized the forum alongside Kauzlarich and Laipson. Kauzlarich and Laipson will provide opening and introductory remarks, respectively.

Former Schar School professor David Hart, now senior fellow for climate and energy at the Council on Foreign Relations, is the keynote guest in a conversation with Schar School Dean Mark J. Rozell.

Organizers hope attendees leave with an appreciation for “the interconnectedness of national security, energy policy, and local infrastructure for commercial space and data centers,” Kauzlarich said.

Update: This event is now full but we hope to see everyone who registered there!