On Tuesday and Wednesday last week, Jan. 14 – 15, UVU hosted Silicon Slopes Summit, a convention that describes itself as “Utah’s original and longest-running grassroots tech conference.” The event is designed to bring together businesses, speakers and, this year, students, to share ideas and learn more about the industries they are all a part of. A diverse array of people attended the convention, including business owners, students, and professors who expressed interest in what the Summit had to offer.
A representative of the university at UVU’s booth stated that the convention allowed students easier access to internship opportunities and mentioned that several vendors had approached them asking about prospective students who were looking for work. For the school, part of the value of hosting Silicon Slopes Summit this year was connecting students seeking work or internships with companies happy to provide. The UVU booth was excited about the opportunities these businesses offered students.
One attendee was Professor Liang, a Communications professor at UVU. When asked why he was attending the convention, Liang stated that, as a professor, it was important for him to stay up to date with new technologies and methods of communication so that he could pass that information on to new generations of students. “It’s eye-opening, it’s a concentration of new technology…” Liang stated, “I feel we are changing to…a new world.” One of the main topics of discussion during the convention was Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its various applications, something that Professor Liang was particularly interested in. “In communication…we use the cutting edge of communication technology, always, from the beginning…the development [of AI] is very fast, as a professor I need to learn the new information technologies so I can use some of them, and I also want to teach my students.”
Other attendees either had an interest in starting a business or had already started one.
Elvin, a soon-to-be UVU student, is a Filipino entrepreneur who started an agricultural technology company back home five years ago. Elvin has read about the conference in the past and was excited to be able to attend in person this year. He came to the convention to network and learn about new skills and technologies to help his business grow and prosper. Elvin applauded the university’s hosting of the Summit this year, saying, “It’s very strategic that under the leadership of Dr. Astrid Tuminez…Silicon [Slopes] Summit [and UVU] partnered together to provide this gathering place for students…to have first-hand witness…of how the startup ecosystem works.”
Biotechnology student Zenos Thoreson is looking to start a nonprofit biotechnology maker’s space in Utah Valley. Thoreson, a long-time attendee and former intern for Silicon Slopes Summit, remarked at how much the convention has changed over the years, from the different venues that have hosted it to the tickets going from hundreds of dollars in years past to free this year. He also noted that the focus of the Summit has shifted from originally being a tech-oriented conference to now being more about general business. Still, he enjoys coming after all this time. Thoreson enjoyed walking around between the booths this year to see the interesting things that people are doing.
While many of the attendees enjoyed their time at the convention, UVU’s decision to host it did cause some unintended ripples throughout campus. Many classes were either canceled or moved to an online setting to prepare for the increased traffic and parking requirements for the week. The logistical issues caused by the convention did raise some controversy among the student population, leading some to question why the convention was held at UVU.
Silicon Slopes Summit 2025 drew in a varied crowd of people. While some students expressed concerns over campus disruption when the event was announced, those who attended the convention pointed out the benefits brought to students and faculty alike by the Summit being on campus. Time will tell whether the Silicon Slopes Summit will find a future home at UVU.
