Energy Symposium Features Omid Shokri, Schar School’s New Energy Expert

The Schar School of Policy and Government’s Center for Energy Science and Policy welcomes Visiting Research Scholar Omid Shokri. Among other activities, Shokri is a panelist for the Third Annual Mason Energy Symposium, taking place Thursday, April 25, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Research Hall Room 163 on George Mason University’s Fairfax Campus.

Shokri is currently receiving his PhD in International Relations at Yalova University in Yalova, Turkey. His area of expertise is energy policy, and his dissertation is on U.S. energy diplomacy in the Caspian Sea.

What brought Shokri across the world to the Schar School? “Mason has an energy research center with high quality faculty members, like [Schar School professor] Richard Kauzlarich,” said Shokri.

“For several years, I’ve been following Omid’s writing on energy issues regarding the Caspian Sea region, including Turkey, Iran, and Azerbaijan,” said Distinguished Visiting Professor Richard Kauzlarich. “I was impressed with his insights on a part of the world that is not well-known in the U.S. When I learned that he was going to be in the U.S., I thought: What a great opportunity to provide Omid with a Schar School research affiliation that would benefit both him and Mason.”

Shokri frequently consults with media outlets such as BBC Persian, Iran INT TV, and Arab Weekly. At the Mason Energy Symposium, he will be a panelist discussing the impact of China’s ideas in Turkey and Iran.

This year’s Third Annual Mason Energy Symposium tackles “China’s Belt and Road Initiative—New Silk Road.” The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required (click here to register). Breakfast and lunch will be provided.