Announcing the 2026 Summer School in Greece

The Texas A&M Energy Institute is proud to announce the kickoff of its 2026 Summer School in Greece, a part of the Undergraduate Research Scholars Program, which is organized by the Texas A&M Energy Institute in cooperation with the Agricultural University of Athens, Greece.

The Resource Nexus: Evaluating Data Center Development Through Community-Engaged, Evidence-Based Decision-Making

The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence is driving hyperscale data center construction globally at an unprecedented scale. These facilities operate 24/7/365 and require immense amounts of electricity and water for cooling. Increasingly, these data centers are sited in regions with moderate climates and cheap electricity, areas that also define prime agricultural lands. In water-stressed regions, this creates direct competition: data centers draw down the same aquifers and strain the same electrical grids that local farmers rely on for food production.

Greece represents a critical microcosm of this global conflict. With major tech companies currently expanding their data center footprint in the Mediterranean, Greece's agricultural sector faces unprecedented competition for resources. Evaluating this intersection requires rigorous, evidence-based policy frameworks.

Over the course of the 7-week program, the participants in the program will contribute to this blog as they prepare to conduct the research, while in the field in Greece, and after the research is analyzed.

Join us for this exciting journey!


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