Build resilient leaders across energy, health, and the economy.

We are at a crossroads. With accelerating climate change and economic impacts, we are nearing the “tipping point” of colliding with biophysical limits inside human bodies, across ecosystems, and for the entire planet. Join leaders from across the state to nurture a shared understanding about our current situation and what could come next for Vermont’s interconnected challenges in energy, health, and the economy.

Learn, connect, and accelerate progress toward a robust and sustainable future. Register today to join the discussion.

This event hosted by the University of Vermont Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources with support from the Blittersdorf Family Foundation. It is free and open to the public. Seating is limited so early registration is encouraged. The purpose of this gathering is to generate respectful dialogue, practical solutions, and Vermont-centered leadership.

Keynote Speaker: Nate Hagens, PhD

Dr. Nate Hagens is an energy and systems thinker, educator, and Executive Director of The Institute for the Study of Energy & Our Future, where he focuses on the intersection of energy, economics, ecology, and human behavior.

A former Wall Street executive turned sustainability scholar, Hagens hosts the The Great Simplification podcast and works to help society better understand and prepare for the cultural and economic transitions driven by environmental and energy constraints. He holds degrees from the University of Chicago and University of Vermont and frequently lectures on systems thinking, resilience, and the future of human civilization.

Nate Hagens' Full Bio

Event Program

• 9 AM: Doors open, networking hour and refreshments
• 10 AM: Keynote: Reality 101 with Nate Hagens
• 11:30 AM: Lunch, networking, and documentary film
• 1 PM: Tackling Vermont's Reality: Moderated Panel with Nate Hagens
• 2 PM: Roundtable conversations led by The Wellbeing Economy Alliance of Vermont (WEAV)
• 3:30 PM: WEAV Roundtable conversations recap and closing remarks
• 4 to 5 PM: Networking and refreshments 

Session Details

• Reality 101 with Nate Hagens
  • In his keynote speech, Dr. Nate Hagens brings his signature storytelling style to take a deep dive into the reality of our current predicament and the interconnected polycrisis, including how we got here and where we go from here. Based on the  “Reality 101” honors course he teaches at the University of Minnesota, his hard-hitting lecture addresses humanity's toughest challenges: economic decline, inequality, pollution, biodiversity loss, and war.
• Lunch, Networking, and Film Screening
  • Break for a buffet lunch and networking in the Livak Fireplace Lounge.
  • Groups from the University and Vermont community will be showcasing projects tackling some of Vermont’s key challenges. You’ll have the opportunity to learn about, get inspired, and get involved in these initiatives.
  • For those interested, a Documentary film featuring an inspiring local renewable energy story will be screened in the Grand Maple Ballroom.
• Moderated Panel: Tackling Vermont’s Reality
  • Moderated panel with Nate and other speakers to discuss how to apply global insights locally. This is a chance for members of the audience to ask Nate questions about how to translate these realities into action in Vermont.
• WEAV Roundtable Conversations: To What End? Redefining the goals of our interconnected energy, health, and economic systems.
  • The Wellbeing Economy Alliance of Vermont will facilitate table talks in the afternoon that invite participants to digest the morning talk with Nate and articulate the goals of our energy, health, and economic systems. We’ll brainstorm ways that we could measure change in the right direction over time and imagine the type of strategic and systemic action that could make a difference at local and statewide levels.

Register to secure your spot!

Additional Resources from Nate Hagens

Listen the The Great Simplication podcast on any platform.

Watch The Great Simplification Film on YouTube: