Please join the Payne Institute for Public Policy at the Colorado School of Mines as we welcome Levi Patterson, Mines Alumni, Professional Staff Member, U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, presenting a hybrid seminar titled Energy and Science Policy: A Staff Perspective from the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, October 11, 2023 at the Colorado School of Mines.  

Levi graduated from the Colorado School of Mines a decade ago with degrees in engineering physics and nuclear engineering. After working to design nuclear power plants for GE, he transitioned to working as a staffer in the U.S. Congress where he advises members of Congress in the development, passage, and oversight of key science, technology, and energy legislation. In recent years, energy and science have been a significant focus of U.S. lawmakers leading to the passage of many landmark bills including the Inflation Reduction Act, the Bipartisan Innovation Law, and the Chips & Science Act. Universities that focus on critical and emerging technologies, such as advanced energy, quantum information sciences, and artificial intelligence will play a key role in advancing the federal science and technology strategy set forth by these bills. In this talk, Levi will discuss the role that scientists and engineers play in shaping and implementing federal energy and science policy, as well the progress Congress has made on these issues and what Congress may do in the near future.

Levi Patterson is currently serving as Professional Staff for the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee focused on Science, hydrogen, efficiency, storage, and emerging technologies. Previously, Levi was able to contribute to these same issues for Senator Ben Ray Luján and Senator Chris Coons. Before coming to Capitol Hill, Levi worked at General Electric Hitachi Nuclear Energy where he worked on nuclear energy and cyber security projects. He holds a B.S. in Engineering Physics and a M.S. in Nuclear Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines.