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Conference comes to UW

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Also by Nick Dmytrenko:

by Nick Dmytrenko

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

A University of Wisconsin student think tank announced Tuesday they will hold a conference to discuss and potentially create a comprehensive energy strategy for upcoming years.

The Roosevelt Institution will bring together public and private businessmen, politicians, professors and professionals from around the country to join college students in debating energy strategies.

"This is the biggest event we've ever had," said UW senior Richard Dovere, executive director of the Roosevelt Institution.

Dovere said he is excited about the quality of the panelists signed up to participate in the conference because they represent several organizations worldwide. He added the event organizers drew the panelists from a pool of nearly 500 people.

The lineup of speakers scheduled to attend include Rep. John Townsend, R-Fond du Lac; Sen. Mark Miller, D-Monona; and Smart Power President Brian Keane.

During the two conference days, there will be a series of seven panels discussing matters ranging from state energy regulation to international security issues.

The Roosevelt Institution has raised $100,000 for this event through donations from the political science department, a number of energy companies, as well as 12 other sponsors.

By diversifying their sponsorships, group leaders hope to represent different — and possibly conflicting — opinions, Max Brunner, founder of the institution's Madison chapter said.

During the two-day conference, all of the panel discussions are open to the public.

The Roosevelt Institution consists of 70 chapters nationwide, and the Madison chapter was created in 2006.

According to Dovere, the organization attempts to set up a network between students and policy makers, allowing the student voice to be heard.

The organization also holds a number of discussions and brings in speakers who are involved in politics to talk about a wide variety of issues important to students.

Bruner said the goal of the Roosevelt Institution in Madison is to facilitate student research ideas.

Dovere said he hopes to create a national student think tank and introduce students to the ideas of public discourse.

This conference, Bruner said, is the largest Roosevelt event to date and was one of three challenges the Roosevelt Institution set for itself this year.

The group is nonpartisan and follows a student agenda set forth by its members, Dovere said. Earlier this year, the group released a publication called "25 Ideas to Change the Future of America's Energy Policy."

The group also announced it is offering a $2,000 scholarship to a student willing to work as staff or at an executive position on the Roosevelt Institution's staff. The student will receive $500 a semester during the course of two years.

The conference will take place all day Oct. 18 and 19 until 10 p.m. at the State Capitol.

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