The Energy Transition Institute (ETI) at the UH Division of Energy and Innovation is proud to work with bp America to strengthen collaboration between industry and academia to drive innovation in the energy sector. Through its support, bp America is helping ETI expand opportunities for students to gain practical, real-world experience outside of their classrooms, building the skills needed for the evolving energy sector. By aligning educational outcomes with industry needs, bp America’s ETI sponsorship reinforces a shared commitment to preparing the next generation of energy professionals.
The impact of this collaboration was evident at the Spring 2026 Coogs for Energy Hackathon hosted by ETI on April 10–11, for which bp America was the prime sponsor. The event saw enthusiastic participation from students and notable industry engagement.
Every Spring and Fall, the hackathon brings together students from diverse disciplines to tackle challenges from the energy industry. The Spring 2026 Hackathon continued that tradition by posing multidisciplinary challenges rooted in real-world energy transition issues, encouraging participants to work collaboratively and think critically. bp America’s involvement ensured that the challenges were closely aligned with industry needs and evolving workforce demands.
Bp America’s ETI sponsorship helped create opportunities for collaboration among students, faculty, researchers, and industry professionals. These connections offer impactful ways of turning ideas into practical solutions that benefit the Houston community and reinforce the city’s role as a hub for energy leadership.
“Houston is home to bp’s US headquarters, and we’re proud to support the next generation of problem‑solvers right here in our hometown. By sponsoring the Coogs for Energy Hackathon, bp is investing in America’s talent, innovation, and future energy solutions. These students bring bold ideas and diverse perspectives that will help shape a more efficient, resilient, and lower‑carbon energy system, and we’re committed to helping them succeed—starting in Houston,” said Dawn Constantin, COO Gas & Power Trading Americas.
Strengthening Workforce Development
A core objective of the CFE Hackathon is ensuring workforce development under real world scenarios, and bp America’s support has strengthened ETI’s ability to train the next generation of energy professionals by offering firsthand learning experiences that complement classroom instruction.
Students who participated in the hackathon gained practical experience working in teams, refining ideas under time pressure, and presenting solutions to expert judges. Additionally, access to bp America and other industry professionals as mentors brought valuable industry perspective.
Expressing appreciation for the collaboration, Debalina Sengupta, chief operating officer of ETI, said, “Support from industry leaders like bp is critical to the success of initiatives like the Coogs for Energy Hackathon. Their sponsorship helps us to create a dynamic, real-world innovation platform for our students, and strengthens the quality of mentorship, resources, and challenge statements we can offer. Partnerships like these are absolutely necessary to ensure that student ideas are grounded in real industry needs, that they are focused on developing solutions with true impact. All this while we make sure that we are preparing them for the future interdisciplinary energy workforce.”
Bp America’s gift will have a transformative and long-lasting impact on ETI’s mission and future initiatives. The investment will also help reinforce long-term partnerships between academia and industry that are critical to accelerating real-world energy solutions. The partnership enhances opportunities for students and faculty alike, cements connections with industry, and elevates the visibility of UH as a leader in energy education and applied innovation.