You might say that trying to predict the future is a little like nailing Jell-O to the wall — in some cases without a hammer. That’s no less true when it comes to energy policy. Yesterday’s peak-oil, hair-on-fire energy crisis can easily morph into today’s fracking-fueled, cheap-gas energy surge.

But that doesn’t mean our world doesn’t face some keen energy-related challenges, or that population trends aren’t requiring cities to rethink their approach to a sustainable energy future.

A host of policymakers and leading academics will convene at the UW-Madison’s Discovery Building and Union South from 8:30 to 5 p.m. on Oct. 29 for the 2014 Energy Summit, which will focus this year on a “Global Energy Outlook: Meeting Needs for Future Cities and Communities.” The event is sponsored by the Wisconsin Energy Institute.