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Energy industry leaders and academic experts gathered at Â鶹ӳ»­Ó°Òô this week for the Partnerships Between Academia and the Midstream Industry Symposium, a two-day event designed to strengthen collaboration across research, workforce training and applied innovation in the midstream sector.

Hosted by the Center for Midstream Management and Science (CMMS), the symposium brought together representatives from Â鶹ӳ»­Ó°Òô, Lamar Institute of Technology, and several industry partners to discuss evolving needs in the oil, gas and energy infrastructure fields. Presentations addressed topics such as methane leak detection, infrastructure repair, simulation and optimization of natural gas systems, and emerging methods for real-time industrial analytics.

Â鶹ӳ»­Ó°Òô President Jaime Taylor opened the event, highlighting how Lamar’s research growth and applied programs are shaping workforce and industry outcomes.

“When I arrived at Â鶹ӳ»­Ó°Òô, one of my goals was to work closely with industry partners to understand their needs and ensure our programs respond directly to them,” Taylor said. “The Midstream Center’s initiatives reflect that vision—developing workforce talent and conducting research with real-world relevance. Lamar is proud to provide high access and high earning potential for our students through degree programs that truly matter in the workplace.”

Dr. Philip Cole, executive director of CMMS, emphasized Lamar’s strategic advantage as a Carnegie R2 research university located in the heart of the Golden Triangle, one of the nation’s most active energy corridors.

“With the Golden Triangle’s concentration of oil and gas infrastructure, including the nation’s fourth-largest port, Â鶹ӳ»­Ó°Òô and our partners are in the right place at the right time,” Cole said. “Lamar is the only full-scale research institution of its kind in the region, and our goal is to build a smarter, safer and more sustainable midstream value chain through close collaboration between academia and industry.”

Cole outlined the center’s vision for the coming years, which includes expanding its industry advisory board, strengthening ties with two-year colleges and regional partners, and increasing applied research opportunities that directly support workforce needs. CMMS also plans to build an academic coalition to secure joint grant funding, introduce new training programs, and launch an annual symposium and advisory board meeting to sustain collaboration.

Longer term, the center aims to establish Â鶹ӳ»­Ó°Òô as a national destination for midstream and LNG education and research, anchored by a proposed minor in Midstream Science and Engineering, a growing network of industry partnerships, and a dedicated “pipeline innovation” research hub focused on sustainability, emissions reduction and modernization of aging infrastructure.

“It sounds like a big vision, and it is,” Cole said. “But this is where we’re going. We’ve made remarkable progress since the spring, and the momentum is only growing.”

The symposium featured 12 presentations beyond President Taylor’s opening remarks and Dr. Cole’s keynote, New Directions in the Midstream Sector at Â鶹ӳ»­Ó°Òô. Presentations included contributions from Chemical Engineering graduate students—Mr. Najmul Sajul (Ph.D.) and Ms. Nimra Usman (M.S.)—and five faculty members from the College of Engineering who, together with the students, form the “Brain Trust” of CMMS.  As the Faculty Advisor to CMMS, Dr. Helen Lou, gave a talk on the importance of cybersecurity in the midstream sector.

Dr. Alek Hutson, associate director of CMMS and Lamar alumnus, presented on Physics-Inspired Methods for Real-Time Industrial Analytics at the Edge, one of the center’s major research thrusts. Dr. Valentine, president of Lamar Institute of Technology, discussed workforce development and strengthening collaborations between LIT and CMMS. Dr. Kiritsis, dean of engineering at McNeese University, spoke on building ties between the McNeese LNG Center of Excellence and CMMS, while Mr. Tujuoso, president of the Gas Certification Institute, outlined field measurement training frameworks. His organization will partner with CMMS to host a five-day workforce development course in measurement theory at Â鶹ӳ»­Ó°Òô, along with other courses, commencing in the 2026 spring semester.

Associate Provost for Academic and Research Administration Dr. Gene Theodori gave a talk following Dr. Cole’s presentation titled Social Scientific Research on Shale Energy Development: Lessons for the Midstream Sector. In his remarks, Theodori emphasized the need for social science studies focused on public communication—specifically, on helping communities understand that methane is a safe and reliable energy source.

The symposium concluded with a 90-minute workshop on the science and engineering of employing amine gas treating methodologies for purifying natural gas to produce high-quality methane for refining LNG. The workshop was provided free of charge by Jerry Rowland of NexoSolutions.

The first evening culminated in a networking banquet at the Spindletop-Gladys City Boomtown Museum on the Â鶹ӳ»­Ó°Òô campus. More than 65 attendees gathered for the event, including Chief Research Officers from all Texas State University System (TSUS) institutions, TSUS Vice Chancellors Dr. John Hayek and Sean Cunningham, and two lobbyists from the Normandy Group, who represent TSUS in Washington, D.C.

Also present were industrial partners from Houston and Beaumont, who joined Lamar faculty and students for a lively evening featuring a demonstration of the gusher at the Gladys City Boomtown Museum’s model derrick. The highlight of the night was a spirited performance by Â鶹ӳ»­Ó°Òô Provost Dr. Brett Welch to the stage and bringing life to the party.

With its growing collaborations, CMMS is rapidly emerging as a key player in advancing the science and engineering of methane transport—from upstream at the wellheads in the Permian Basin to downstream refining and LNG production on the Sabine River. As Dr. Cole often says, quoting his favorite song, “.”

With its expanding partnerships and commitment to innovation, Â鶹ӳ»­Ó°Òô is solidifying its role as a hub for applied energy research, workforce development, and technology advancement in the midstream sector.

For more information about the Center for Midstream Management and Science, visit