The rapid expansion of data centers driven by artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and digitalization is creating unprecedented demands on energy systems, water resources, and supporting infrastructure. At the same time, emerging technologies and evolving operational practices present new opportunities to improve efficiency, resilience, and sustainability. This workshop will bring together experts from national laboratories, academia, and industry to explore the challenges and opportunities associated with the future of data center infrastructure. Through keynote presentations, panel discussions, and networking opportunities, the workshop will foster dialogue across sectors and identify critical research needs and collaborative pathways to support the next generation of digital infrastructure. The event is designed for researchers, industry professionals, policymakers, and students interested in advancing the understanding of data center energy use, resource management, and infrastructure development for a data-driven world.
- Explore infrastructure challenges associated with rapid data center growth, as well as the interdependencies among energy, water, and data within underground infrastructure systems.
- Examine current and future energy, water, and resource demands of data centers, and discuss emerging subsurface technologies that can improve efficiency, reliability, and sustainability.
- Foster collaboration among academia, national laboratories, utilities, industry, and public agencies.
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 6:00-6:45 p.m. | Registration and Networking Happy hour, Snacks and Crudité |
| 6:45-7:00 p.m. | Day 1 Welcome and Opening Remarks Welcome from Dr. Allison MacKay, Civil, Environmental, and Geodetic Engineering Department Chair, and organizers Dr. Martina Leveni and Dr. Elise Miller-Hooks |
| 7:00-8:00 p.m. | Welcome Dinner |
| 8:00-8:30 p.m. | ♙ Keynote Lecture: “The Most Exciting Pages of the Digital Infrastructure Story are Yet to Be Written”. Dr. David McCollum, Oak Ridge National Laboratory Q&A |
| 8:30-9:00 p.m. | Desserts |
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 8:00-8:30 a.m. | Beverages & Pastries, Registration and Networking |
| 8:30-8:40 a.m. | Day 2 Welcome and Opening Remarks Welcome from Dr. Seth H. Weinberg, Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education, and organizers |
| 8:40-8:45 a.m. | Welcome and Workshop Overview TUUI introduction and Workshop goals, Dr. Martina Leveni and Dr. Elise Miller-Hooks |
| 8:45-8:50 a.m. | The evolution of data centers in Ohio and in the US Dr. Matilde D’Arpino |
| 8:50-9:20 a.m. | ♙Keynote Speaker: “Cold Underground Thermal Energy Storage (UTES)”. Dr. Guangdong Zhu, National Laboratory of the Rockies Q&A |
| 9:20-9:50 a.m. | ♙Keynote Speaker: “The delicate endeavor of underground development”. Dr. Alessandro Rotta Loria, Northwestern University Q&A |
| 9:50-10:05 a.m. | Morning Break – Beverages & Snacks |
| 10:05-10:45 a.m. | Working Session 1- Reflecting on Progress in Underground Infrastructure Lead: Dr. Nehal Jajal, and Dr. Marcelo Sanchez |
| 10:45-11:05 a.m. | Invited Talk: “Resource Demand for Future Copper Supply in the United States”. Dr. Hanna Breunig, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Q&A |
| 11:05-11:25 a.m. | Invited Talk: “Modeling and Mitigating Environmental Footprint of AI Computing”. Dr. Pengfei Li, Rochester Institute of Technology Q&A |
| 11:25-11:30 a.m. | Working Session 1 Debrief |
| 11:30-12:05 p.m. | Working Session 2- Identifying Challenges for Underground Infrastructure Lead: Dr. Zhongyang He |
| 12:05-1:20 p.m. | Networking Lunch & Poster Session |
| 1:20-1:40 p.m. | Invited Talk: “Repurposing Abandoned Mine Lands for Data Centers”. Dr. Zhen Lei & Dr. Dahi Taleghani, Penn State University Q&A |
| 1:40-1:45 p.m. | Working Session 2 Debrief |
| 1:45-2:10 p.m. | Working Session 3- Evaluating Next Steps for Underground Infrastructure Lead: Dr. Baishakhi Bose |
| 2:10-2:50 pm | Panel Discussion Moderator: Dr. Jeffrey M. Bielicki |
| 2:50-3:05 pm | Afternoon Break – Beverages & Snacks |
| 3:05-3:10 p.m. | Working Session 3 Debrief |
| 3:10-3:35 p.m. | Working Session 4- Recommendations for Short-Term and Long-Term Activities Lead: Dr. Nehal Jajal, and Dr. Rabab Haider |
| 3:35-3:40 p.m. | Working Session 4 Debrief |
| 3:40-4:20 p.m. | Presentation by NSF Program Director, Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation Section, Directorate for Engineering (ENG) Dr. Giovanna Biscontin Q&A |
| 4:20-4:30 p.m. | Cross-Theme Priorities and Closing Remarks Next steps, Dr. Martina Leveni and Dr. Elise Miller-Hooks |
| 4:30 p.m. | Workshop Adjournment |
- From the Workshop: White paper on key challenges, research priorities, technology gaps, workforce needs, and recommendations for future collaboration and funding initiatives; ideas for near-term activities
- Collaborative proposals
- A cross-cutting inventory of shared research infrastructure, datasets, and resources
- Research roadmap for underground energy, water, and data infrastructure
- Identification of critical research needs
- TUUI Activity group proposal to support future developments