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The National Hydropower Association (NHA) created the Clean Currents conference + trade show to serve as the definitive annual gathering for the waterpower industry. With the goal of uniting professionals from conventional hydropower, pumped storage, small hydro, and marine energy, Clean Currents strives to advance the role waterpower plays in the renewable energy future.
Taking place in Cincinnati, Ohio, from October 10 – 13, NHA is looking for speakers to shape this important “for the industry, by the industry” event. The deadline to submit proposals is April 15th.
For those curious about the benefits of speaking at Clean Currents, Roger Clarke-Johnson, sales and marketing director at Mercury Governor Group, shared his insight:
“I recognized long ago the value in presenting, for both you and your company. Even though you do your job every day, you know things that others don’t. With all the new people coming into the industry, what you know is valuable to them, and speaking is a small commitment with a big reward.”
George Kalli, PE, PMP, CWRP, regional design manager at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Hydroelectric Design Center, agrees with the sentiment: “It’s beneficial to you personally and professionally, and it give you visibility.”
WHAT TO SUBMIT
The mission of NHA and all the volunteers involved in creating the educational program for Clean Currents is to create content that is:
- High quality
- Delivers information in innovative, interesting, and useful ways
- Meets the continuing education needs of event attendees
Any topic relevant to any sector of the waterpower industry — conventional hydropower, pumped storage hydropower, small hydropower, or marine energy – will be considered.
When submitting a proposal, consider topics that contribute toward advancing attendees’ knowledge and understanding in a non-commercial manner. Proposals that add to an attendee’s professional development are of the highest priority.
In addition, proposals that present “new” information – i.e., content not previously presented at a conference in hydropower, marine energy, or dam safety – are strongly preferred.
Proposals featuring project owners, operators, and/or developers as speakers will be given the highest consideration, and it’s important to consider that the Clean Currents program is focused on quality vs. quantity; therefore, while all proposals are given due consideration, a submission doesn’t guarantee a speaking slot.
George Kalli, PE, PMP, CWRP, regional design manager at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Hydroelectric Design Center, spoke to the importance of presenting: “It’s beneficial to you personally and professionally, and it give you visibility.”
TYPES OF PRESENTATIONS
Everyone learns a little differently, so the educational program for Clean Currents features information sharing is a variety of ways, including:
- Classroom Presentations
For these presentations, NHA is looking for proposals focused on state-of-the-art technical advances, applications of innovation that solved a problem, or lessons learned in a particular situation that could be useful to others.
- Technology and Innovation Demonstrations
For these presentations, NHA is looking for proposals focused on state-of-the-art technical advances, applications of innovation that solved a problem, or lessons learned in a particular situation that could be useful to others.
- Poster Presentations
This opportunity includes a visual display and a short “hear from the expert” oral summary. Speakers participating in this format create visual displays to mount on display boards (8 feet wide by 4 feet tall). These boards are on display in the Waterpower Learning Center in CC Central on Wednesday and Thursday. Presenters will also participate in a “Hear from the Expert” session, where the presenter stands next to his or her poster and provides a short oral overview of his or her work while answering questions from attendees.
- Deep-Dive Workshops
These workshops are either two- or four-hour sessions designed to help attendees solve problems and meet challenges they experience in day-to-day work. These workshops are informal, practical, and hands-on. For these workshops, NHA is looking for faculty that are engaging, knowledgeable, and non-promotional.
Raj Arumugam, sales director at GE Renewable Energy, spoke to the benefits of having diverse presentation formats:
“The presentations are a very interactive way to share information, as opposed to speaking to a large audience in a formal, classroom type setting. At Clean Currents, you’re able to reach a wide audience to spread the message. It’s a great way to promote yourself and get the message out.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION
If you’re interested in submitting a proposal to speak, please do so by the April 15, 2023, deadline.
All proposals will be reviewed by NHA staff and the Clean Currents Content Development Committee, and the results of the review will be communicated to all submitters by June 15, 2023.
