Few issues are more insidious than the ticking time-bomb that is America’s energy policy. The student organizers of last week’s Energy Crossroads conference have done a great service by highlighting the need for a concerted interdisciplinary approach in devising a strategy to deal with the energy problem. This refreshing symposium was a strong indicator that some students at Stanford, at least, really do get it.

Energy Crossroads was the brainchild of Lyuba Wolf, a Stanford senior studying international relations who returned from a quarter in Washington, D.C., irritated that energy policy wasn’t receiving the interdisciplinary focus it deserved. Wolf envisioned a conference that would bring together top leaders from across disciplines to confront the challenges of providing a clean, prosperous and secure energy future. In under six months, Wolf and a team of fellow Stanford students turned that vision into a reality.

The student-run, three-day symposium was a smashing success. Participants from industry, government and academia flocked to campus last week to hear big-name speakers like New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman and Nobel Laureate Steve Chu. The conference was professional, well-planned and well-attended. Moreover, it provided ample opportunity for the critical cross-pollination of ideas across sectors and disciplines.

The manner and rate at which we consume energy has far-reaching implications for our security, economy and the health of our entire planet. Reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and eliminating greenhouse gas emissions are perhaps the most pressing challenges facing our generation. The consequences of failure — in the form of climate change and otherwise — are too dire to leave for future generations.

We commend Lyuba Wolf and the Energy Crossroads organizing committee for taking crucial first steps in making clean and secure energy a national priority. We also tip our hats to Stanford University and the many student groups and NGOs that provided support and sponsorship to the Energy Crossroads team and encourage the administration and student groups to collaborate on similar endeavors in the future. The Crossroads organizers are a shining example of what students can accomplish. They raise the bar for student leadership at Stanford.