KGS to explore Kentucky’s energy outlook at annual seminar
LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 18, 2026) — The Kentucky Geological Survey (KGS) will host “Powering Kentucky’s Future,” its 65th annual seminar, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 2.
This free event is at the University of Kentucky’s Don & Cathy Jacobs Science Building with workshops at the William T. Young Library, the Mining and Minerals Resources Building and off campus at the Earth Analysis Research Library.
The seminar will focus on Kentucky’s energy outlook and feature presentations on emerging geoscience research related to hydrogen, critical minerals, oil and gas, environmental management, and rogue methane emissions.
Kenya Stump, executive director of the Kentucky Office of Energy Policy, will deliver the keynote presentation: a review of Kentucky’s current energy infrastructure, the challenges and opportunities of the energy landscape, and potential new energy sources.
The event will also include poster presentations and a complimentary lunch.
For the second year, participants may choose between three hands-on afternoon workshops. Led by Matt Crawford, Ph.D., KGS landslide geologist, the landslide data workshop at Young Library will focus on how landslide data can inform mitigation planning. The ground-penetrating radar for beginners workshop, led by Ed Woolery, Ph.D., professor and chair of the UK Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, is at the Mining and Minerals Resources Building. The third workshop, off-campus at the Earth Analysis Research Library, will focus on geological hydrogen exploration using rock cores.
The seminar is free and open to the public, but registration is required. View agenda and register now.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and healthcare. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $1.02 billion research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.