An Inaugural Energy Centres for Doctoral Training Student Conference
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Sheffield
Department Name: Chemical & Biological Engineering
Abstract
The Centres of Doctoral Training (CDTs) are the research-training flagship initiative for EPSRC/NERC. In these centres students are recruited into cohorts and receive high-level specialist training in areas of strategic importance to UK. Within these there are nine identifiable as having an energy focus.
One criticism of CDTs is that they are overly specialist and there is a danger that students may not develop an overview of energy necessary to bring their particular specialism to the complex problem of modernising the UK's energy system. To remedy this we are seeking to organise a two-day invited conference in which the student cohorts will have the opportunity to meet and to form inter-CDT teams to competitively develop solutions to the problem of decarbonising the UK's low-grade heat network. The teams will need to pool different technologies and produce solutions that will be assessed by high-profile energy experts. During this process they will have access to consultancy specialists in the areas of finance, law and policy. Thus the students will not only gain experience in systems thinking but also in the broader skills necessary to develop and implement new energy technologies.
This conference will also introduce our external expert consultants to the CDT structure, thus raising its overall profile. We will be actively seeking new methods for introducing new 'additional' skills into energy CDT training programmes
One criticism of CDTs is that they are overly specialist and there is a danger that students may not develop an overview of energy necessary to bring their particular specialism to the complex problem of modernising the UK's energy system. To remedy this we are seeking to organise a two-day invited conference in which the student cohorts will have the opportunity to meet and to form inter-CDT teams to competitively develop solutions to the problem of decarbonising the UK's low-grade heat network. The teams will need to pool different technologies and produce solutions that will be assessed by high-profile energy experts. During this process they will have access to consultancy specialists in the areas of finance, law and policy. Thus the students will not only gain experience in systems thinking but also in the broader skills necessary to develop and implement new energy technologies.
This conference will also introduce our external expert consultants to the CDT structure, thus raising its overall profile. We will be actively seeking new methods for introducing new 'additional' skills into energy CDT training programmes
Planned Impact
The main impact will be help produce more broadly educated personnel better equipped to undertake future leadership positions in the industrial energy technology producers and users sectors as well as consultants and designers.
We will be achieved this by forcing participants from different energy CDTs to work together on a complex energy related problem. Additionally the student participants will work with leading specialists from the areas of energy law, finance and policy thereby further broadening their experience.
We will be achieved this by forcing participants from different energy CDTs to work together on a complex energy related problem. Additionally the student participants will work with leading specialists from the areas of energy law, finance and policy thereby further broadening their experience.
Organisations
| Description | Given the award was in support of a joint CDT training event, the key outcomes from the Conference encompass a range of results including the training of the students who attended to engage with policy makers, to network outside of their technical area and how to pitch their findings to a wide audience. The event also exposed the students to a wide range of other disciplines, allowing them to develop a wide network of feature collaborators and develop their wider thinking, as well as directly to policy makers from the EC. The students were also posed a problem, the 'decarbonisation of Europe's islands', for which the attendees developed solutions two of which were presented to the EC directly. |
| Exploitation Route | As the workshop question posed, the 'decarbonisation of Europe's islands', was of direct interest to the EC as part of their decarbonisation agenda, the ideas and solutions produced by the students were presented to policy makers who may take them up. Also, the ECRs involved may leverage these ideas for future project proposals and publications. |
| Sectors | Energy |
| Description | As part of the event, the PhD students attending were also posed a problem, the 'decarbonisation of Europe's islands', the solutions and technological suggestions that were generated were presented directly to the EC commissioners to inform policy . |
| First Year Of Impact | 2019 |
| Sector | Energy |
| Impact Types | Policy & public services |
| Description | Presentation of concepts for decarbonising the EU's islands |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Three student proposals for decarbonising EU Islands, created at the conference, were taken forward by the Commission and presented by Feilim O-Connor at |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://ec.europa.eu/inea/en/news-events/events/horizon-2020-energy-info-day |