By Kyle Shelton, CTS Director
![Close up of a charger plugged into an electric vehicle](/sites/cts.umn.edu/files/styles/folwell_half/public/2024-08/electric-vehicle-charging.jpg?itok=BYuGD_17)
Are you a student or aspiring professional interested in learning more about the ever-growing opportunities in electrification? Want to meet leaders from the transportation sector, utilities, and public agencies that are working to build the electrification workforce? If so, consider registering for Electroposium 2.0 on September 23, 2024, at the U of M’s McNamara Alumni Center in Minneapolis.
This free event will highlight the industry appetite for well-trained workers across electrification applications and allow attendees to learn more about these opportunities. Electroposium 2.0 aims to inspire and empower the next generation of electrification leaders, showcasing cutting-edge technological advancements, offering hands-on training, and fostering vibrant discussions about the future of electrification.
As CTS’s director, I was happy to participate in the 2023 event, which was a big success. This year’s event is shaping up to be an even larger and more impactful program. It offers an unparalleled networking opportunity for undergraduate or graduate students, industry professionals, and academic researchers.
CTS is always eager to find ways to support our colleagues at the College of Science and Engineering, their Technological Leadership Institute, and their MN Center for Electrification Opportunity (MNCEO). I’m proud to represent CTS as a member of the steering committee for MNCEO—an industry-driven initiative that aims to bring together business, academia, and government to increase economic competitiveness in the face of international competition for companies and jobs in electrification. With support from founding industry members such as Toro, Design Ready Controls, Polaris, and ThermoKing, and funding from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, the MNCEO has positioned Electroposium as a signature event to draw together the many strains of folks working in electrification today.
In addition to Electroposium, MNCEO is developing tailored curricula around electrification topics that helps prepare students and can upskill existing employees to fill positions of high need across industries. These pathways will ultimately span the educational spectrum, including community and tech college courses, four-year degree programs, and continued training for existing professionals.