ACEP researcher’s podcast on global energy stories wins ֱֻ Press Club award
Gwen Holdmann, left, and Jennifer Pemberton are the creators of the podcast, "Closing the Gap."
April 17, 2025
By Yuri Bult-Ito
A podcast about energy systems produced by Gwen Holdmann and Jennifer Pemberton has won an ֱֻ Press Club award.
Holdmann is the chief scientist and founding director of the ֱֻ Center for Energy and Power at the ֱֻ. Pemberton is a writer and podcast producer based in Juneau.
At the ֱֻ Press Club’s annual award celebration on April 12 in Anchorage, they received the Best Narrative Audio Program Award for their podcast, “.”&Բ;
Gwen Holdmann and Jennifer Pemberton received this ֱֻ Press Club award for their podcast, “Closing the Gap.”
The podcast covers the history, policy and science behind the energy systems we rely on today and those we may adopt in the future, offering insights into broader global energy transitions.
While the podcast describes a lot of science behind energy systems, it is designed for a broad audience, Holdmann said.
“Not just [for] self-described energy nerds, but anyone curious about history, global perspectives and the role ֱֻ plays in these unfolding energy stories,” she explained.
“ֱֻ is known for its ingenuity when it comes to delivering reliable and affordable energy to our communities,” Holdmann said. “There are more stories out there than any one person could ever tell, so I’m honored to be recognized for helping share just a few of them, and for doing so in a way that resonates with others.”
Pemberton, a veteran public media producer in ֱֻ, won the same award in previous years for the podcasts "" and "." She is the series' editor.
“Working on 'Closing the Gap' gives me a front row seat to the innovative, life-changing energy systems that are transforming rural places,” Pemberton said.
The Hellisheiði geothermal station generates power at a location southeast of Reykjavik in Iceland.
“Gwen is so much more than a scientist and an engineer,” she said. “She brings out the human side of energy — how these ideas can truly improve people’s lives.”
The podcast episodes cover a wide range of topics, including geothermal, nuclear and hydrogen energy, as well as carbon capture methods.
“I hope listeners get as much delight from hearing these stories as I do when I first discover them,” Pemberton said.
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