Energy & Climate
April–July 2026You are living through an energy and climate transition whether you work in the field or not. It shows up in your bills, your job, your neighborhood, your health, your infrastructure, and the way communities make decisions.
This Open Labs cycle gives you a place to make sense of it with other people—and do something with what you learn. You’ll join learning pods and project teams, explore real problems, and build practical proof of your skills while working on issues that matter.
Anyone can join. You do not need to be a technical expert. You just need curiosity, commitment, and a willingness to learn with others.
What this cycle is
The Energy & Climate Cycle is a themed Open Labs season focused on how energy systems, climate risk, and community infrastructure are changing—and what people like you can do about it.
This is not a lecture series where you sit quietly and take notes. It is a peer-powered learning experience where you learn by doing: asking better questions, working through real cases, and building with a team.
You might come in because you care about:
energy affordability
grid reliability
extreme heat
housing and electrification
disaster readiness
climate resilience
workforce transitions
local infrastructure
public policy
AI and data tools for planning, operations, or community support
All of that belongs here.
Why this theme matters now
Energy and climate are no longer “future issues.” They are operations issues. They are workforce issues. They are neighborhood issues. They are cost-of-living issues.
That means the people who understand how these systems work—and can collaborate across sectors—will be more valuable in almost every field.
This cycle helps you build that kind of understanding in public, with others, on real problems.
What you’ll do
During this cycle, you will:
Learn with a pod
Join a small group of peers exploring a shared topic, challenge, or question.Work on a real project
Collaborate with others to investigate, prototype, map, analyze, or communicate something useful.Build visible proof of skill
Leave with work you can point to: a brief, a prototype, a process map, a dataset analysis, a community resource, a playbook, or another concrete output.Grow your network by contributing
Meet people by working with them—not just exchanging names.
This is how you move from “interested” to “capable.”
How Open Labs works in this cycle
Open Labs is built so you can enter where you are and start moving.
1) Join the cycle
You sign up because the theme matters to you. Maybe you’re climate-curious. Maybe this is your field. Maybe your work is being reshaped by energy costs, infrastructure demands, or new regulation.
2) Find your people
You connect into learning pods and project teams based on your interests, goals, and what you want to build.
3) Learn by doing
You attend sessions, contribute to your group, test ideas, and develop real understanding through practice.
4) Show your work
You leave with clearer thinking, stronger relationships, and proof of what you can do.
No gatekeeping. No selective cohort. Just an open, structured way to learn and contribute.
What counts as “Energy & Climate” here
A lot more than people think.
This cycle can include projects and discussions related to:
Home energy and utility costs
Weatherization and electrification
Grid resilience and outages
Extreme heat and public health
Flooding, storm preparedness, and local response
Climate risk communication
Transportation and mobility systems
Supply chains and infrastructure dependencies
Workforce development for energy transition jobs
Local government planning and service delivery
Community data tools, mapping, and dashboards
AI tools for research, operations, forecasting, or public communication
You do not need to solve the whole climate crisis. You just need to help make one part of the system clearer, stronger, faster, or more human.
Who belongs in this cycle
You belong here if you are:
trying to build practical skills in a changing economy
curious about energy, infrastructure, and climate issues
looking for a project that matters
exploring a career transition
already working in policy, operations, health, tech, education, utilities, planning, construction, research, or community organizing
a professional with experience who wants to mentor while learning too
someone who has lived experience of these issues and wants to contribute that perspective
You do not need the “right” resume to participate. You need a reason to care and a willingness to show up.
What you’ll leave with
By the end of the cycle, you should have:
a stronger working understanding of a major public issue
experience collaborating in a pod and/or project team
visible proof of your contribution
better language for what you know and what you can do
new peers, collaborators, and future opportunities
In other words: not just more information—more capability.
Ways to participate
Join as an Upskiller
You want to learn, contribute, and build proof of skill through real work.
Join as a Mentor/Contributor
You have experience to share and want to support others while sharpening your own thinking.
Join as a Volunteer
You want to help the cycle run well and support community learning.
Join as a Partner
You represent an organization with a problem, perspective, tools, or resources that could help seed meaningful work.
Everyone has something to teach. Everyone has something to learn.
What to expect
This cycle runs from April through July 2026 and includes a mix of:
hands-on sessions
discussions and workshops
pod collaboration
project team work
community-facing moments to share progress and outcomes
You can start from curiosity. You do not need to have a polished project idea on day one.
FAQ
Do I need a technical background?
No. Some projects may be technical, but many are not. Good teams need researchers, organizers, communicators, builders, and people who can ask sharp questions.
Do I need to attend everything?
No. Open Labs is designed for real life. The goal is meaningful participation, not perfect attendance.
What if I’m new to energy or climate topics?
That is completely fine. This cycle is built for mixed experience levels.
What if I already work in this field?
Great. You can deepen your thinking, meet collaborators, and help others level up while building new ideas.
Join the Energy & Climate Cycle
If you’ve been waiting for a way to learn by doing—on real issues, with real people—this is your opening.
Join the Energy & Climate Cycle (April–July 2026) and build something useful with your community.
