ITHACA, N.Y. -- As pump prices for gasoline set record highs in the United States and crude oil becomes more expensive than it has been almost at any time since the 1991 Gulf War, Cornell University is hosting an engineering conference April 15-17 on Energy Demand and Sustainable Development.

The conference will feature talks on the applications and business potential of new technologies in energy and sustainable development by Cornell alumni who are leading energy industry figures and faculty members who are leading the research at the Cornell campus. They will discuss a range of issues involved in formulating national energy policy, including the role of advanced technologies, providing low-cost electricity and the use of ethanol as a fuel. The conference also includes a research poster session by students.

Open only to registrants, the conference is sponsored by the Cornell Society of Engineers (CSE) and the Cornell College of Engineering, in collaboration with the Cornell Center for the Environment and the Johnson Graduate School of Management.

The conference will kick off April 15 with the delivery of the 2004 Hatfield Address and William Ohaus Memorial Lecture by Jeffrey R. Immelt, chairman of the board and CEO of General Electric Co., at 4:30 p.m. in Call Alumni Auditorium of Kennedy Hall. His subject will be "The Innovation Imperative."

The conference will move to the Statler Hotel, Barnes Hall and other campus locations April 16 and 17 for discussions by a number of leading figures in energy innovation. Among them:

o Douglas Yearley, a 1957 graduate, former chairman of Phelps Dodge, who will talk on "Sustainability in Mining and Manufacturing," April 16 at 9:30 a.m. o Elissa P. Sterry, a 1979 graduate, manager of economics and energy in the Corporate Planning Department, Exxon Mobil Corp., who will talk on "The Role of Advanced Technologies in the Sustainable Use of Fossil Fuels," April 16 at 10 a.m.

o Kenneth Humphreys, chief engineer for sustainable technology development, Battelle, who will talk on "Carbon Sequestration: Providing Low-Cost Electricity -- in a Carbon-Constrained World," April 16 at 11 a.m.

o Scott Donnelley, senior vice president, Global Research, General Electric Co., who will talk on "GE Windpower Solutions," April 17 at 9:30 a.m.

o Daniel O'Connell, head of the Development Center, General Motors Fuel Cell Activities, who will talk on "Fuel Cell Research at General Motors," April 17 at 10 a.m.

For more information and talk locations, call the CSE office at (607) 255-9920.

Registration is required and can be made online at http://www.cse.cornell.edu or by e-mail to engr_cse@cornell.edu . The registration fee of $199 for all sessions and meals or $119 for technical sessions only is refundable through April 10, less $25 to cover administrative costs. Registration for alumni graduating between 1998 and 2003 is $149, including meals. Students and faculty members can attend the sessions without charge.