New Database from the Environment Research Funders' Forum
A one stop shop for environmental research
A new single online database of environmental research should save time for researchers looking for bid partners or seeing what else has been funded in their field. The Environment Research Funders' Forum has put the research funded by all its members into one easy-to-search place. This includes research funded by the UK Research Councils, devolved administrations, environment agencies, and relevant government departments such as the Department for Transport, the Department of Energy and Climate Change, and the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs.
www.erff.org.uk/databases/textsearch.aspx
New Website Launch
"Global Uncertainties: Security for all in a Changing World"
The RCUK programme 'Global Uncertainties: Security for all in a Changing World' is one of the six RCUK priority themes. These programmes provide a focus for coordinating and funding multidisciplinary research and novel approaches to help the UK address major strategic challenges.
Global Uncertainties, a joint research programme between the seven UK Research Councils, has established a new website containing information on programme objectives, activities, funding, and news.
The research funded and activities supported under the Global Uncertainties programme will help governments, business, and societies to better understand the complex nature of the drivers of insecurity, and provide new knowledge about how threats to security develop and how they can be predicted, detected, prevented, and mitigated.
www.globaluncertainties.org.uk/
Transforming Energy Demand Through Digital Innovation
21 July 2009 - Scoping and Networking Meeting
Applications are invited to attend a one day meeting that will help finalise the scope for a call for proposals concerned with the application of digital technologies to the reduction of energy demand in other sectors. The resulting call will specifically exclude single-discipline research directed at a single sector e.g. improving energy efficiency of computers, servers, and devices. A further objective of the meeting will be to encourage researchers in the different communities to engage, with a view to collaboration.
Closing date for applications — Midday, 30 June 2009
More information at www.epsrc.ac.uk/CallsForProposals/digitalinnovationcall.htm
Energy Symposium
Tuesday 21 July 2009, 1.30 - 5.00 pm in the Carnegie Lecture Theatre, Joseph Black building, University of Glasgow
Among the speakers are two internationally renowned academics, Professor Edwin Constable of the University of Basel and Professor Craig Hill of Emory University, who are currently developing big fundamental and applied energy programmes. The emphasis of this symposium will be the fundamental to practical application divide and there will be an emphasis on discussion and dynamic interactions with the speakers. In addition, two researchers from the Cronin group will give a short overview of their work in related areas.
The symposium programme is available for download here: Energy Symposium
Scottish Renewables Festival
13 and 14 June 2009
SFC's Renewable Energy Skills Group (RESG) is keen to promote the inaugural Scottish Renewables Festival that will take place at various venues across Scotland on the weekend of the 13th and 14th of June 2009. One of the RESG's aims is to promote renewable energy as a dynamic industry to work in, and this family-friendly educational festival is an excellent way to raise awareness of the industry and stimulate interest in renewables.
The Festival will enable people to see how new renewable technologies are being used and developed to help tackle climate change by delivering renewable, greener fuel sources. Wind farms, hydro power schemes and wood fuel power stations across Scotland will open their doors to the public during the Festival, and there will be opportunities to see how domestic micro-renewable installations can work in the home.
Full details of the programme and interactive maps are available at www.renewablesfestival.com/.
For more information about the Festival, you can contact Scottish Renewables at 0141 353 4980, info@scottishrenewables.com or visit the website at www.scottishrenewables.com.
If you would like to find out more about the work of the RESG, please contact Nicola Lynch, Policy Officer, Strategic Development, SFC, at 0131 313 6698 or nlynch@sfc.ac.uk.
Adapting for 3 degrees of climate change: the adaptation of buildings and cities for climate change and fuel poverty.
Thursday 11 June 2009 7.00-9.00pm
Glasgow University Science Festival Public Lecture by Professor Sue Roaf, Heriot Watt University.
Sponsored by Royal Philosophical Society of Glasgow.
Professor Roaf will stress the importance of building ecologically in order to avoid ruining the earth with buildings that are profligate consumers of energy and producers of more than half of all greenhouse gases. Examples of her experiences in designing and building her own 'eco houses' are used to demonstrate principles and technologies in practice. Professor Roaf's current research interests include issues of passive building performance, efficient technology, building integrated renewable energy generators and human behaviour and subtle controls to create low energy and low carbon buildings; natural ventilation of buildings.
Venue: Boyd Orr Lt 2
Introduction: Prof John Coggins
Event is free. No booking required. Wine reception.
More information at www.glasgowsciencefestival.org.uk/
Public Lecture at the Royal Society: "The Great British Refurb" Housing for a low carbon energy future
Tuesday 9 June 2009 at 6.30pm
by Professor Tadj Oreszczyn, University College London
Chair: Professor Chris Rapley, Science Museum
Almost half of the UK 's energy is used in buildings to provide a safe, healthy, comfortable, productive and fun environment. Most future low carbon scenarios assume significant reductions in carbon emissions associated with the built environment over the next thirty years.
Historically however theoretical carbon reductions have not materialized, for example, new buildings often use twice the energy that would be expected and major government insulation and heating system improvements can deliver minimal improvements in energy efficiency. This is because of the highly complex socio-economic and technical systems that make up the built environment.
Major changes to research, development and deployment as well as government policy is required if major carbon reductions are to be delivered within the next thirty years.
The presentation will cover questions such as:
How will our housing stock have to change in a low carbon future?
Why does energy use increase sometimes when we improve the energy efficiency of buildings?
Will future energy efficient buildings be healthy buildings?
Can we fix the problem with technology alone?
Tadj Oreszczyn is Professor of Energy and Environment, Director of the UCL Energy Institute and Head of the Bartlett School of Graduate Studies, Faculty of the Built Environment, University College London
Chris Rapley is Director of the Science Museum and previously Director of the British Antarctic Survey.
Admission free – no ticket or advance booking. Doors will open at 5.45pm. Seats allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. This event will be broadcast live at royalsociety.org/live
Professor Rangan Banerjee Energy-related talks
Monday 1 June from 2.00-3.15pm: "Renewable Energy in India – Status and Potential"
Tuesday 2 June from 10.30-11.45am: "Modelling Energy Systems- Efficiency and Renewables"
Professor Rangan Banerjee will deliver two energy related talks in room 3.45 of the Royal College Building, University of Strathclyde. Everyone is welcome but for an indication of numbers please inform Simon Puttock at simon.puttock@eee.strath.ac.uk if you are interested in attending one or both of the talks.
More information about the talks is available here: June 2009 Energy talks
Ireland-Scotland Cross-Border Programme Information Day: Rural & Environment Funding Calls
Monday 1 June 2009, 10.00am – 2.00pm
This information day will give an overview of the Cross-Border Programme and calls and will also feature a case study on Biomara from Dave Gunn from the Scottish Association for Marine Science. A series of project idea workshops will also be held at Loch Lomond National Park HQ, Balloch, West Dunbartonshire.
For more information and to register please contact Scotland Europa: www.eventbrite.com/contact-organizer?eid=326616920
Scotland Malawi Partnership Climate Change Conference
Monday 25 May 2009
The Scotland Malawi Partnership is hosting a conference to examine the impact of climate change on Malawi and to explore what can be done to mitigate and adapt to its worst effects. This will be a very high profile event with 12 different charities offering speakers through the day and, in the afternoon, a cross party panel of MSPs to answer questions on Scotland's Climate Change Bill.
The event will take place in Our Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh on Monday 25th May between 10.00 and 16.00.
All are welcome to attend; however, places are limited and must be booked by the 19th May. For full details and for the registration form please visit http://tinyurl.com/smpclimate
The draft programme is available for download here: 090525 Malawi Climate Change Agenda
The Sustainable Laboratory
Friday 1 May 2009
Higher Education Environmental Performance Improvement (HEEPI) is hosting workships on how academics, lab managers and technicians can make an environmental difference in their workplace, from 9.30am – 3.30pm in the Rutherford Building, University of Edinburgh, The King’s Buildings, Mayfield Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JH. The event flyer is available for download here: 090501 SustLab workshops
SDN Lecture: SEPA Environmental Sciences and Sustainability – Some Provocations
Wednesday 29 April 2009
The Sustainable Development Network is hosting a lecture by Campbell Gemmell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. This lecture will be held at 5.30pm in the Hunterian Art Gallery Lecture Theatre and will be followed by a drinks reception in the Art Gallery.
The lecture flyer is available here: 090429 SEPA lecture
‘Fiddling while the planet burns: Media and Climate Change’
Monday 27 April 2009
The Glasgow University Media Group is hosting a lecture by Professor Justin Lewis of the Cardiff School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies, University of Cardiff. The lecture will take place from 4.30-6.00pm in room T218, Adam Smith Building
Scientists are now increasingly alarmed about the scale of death and destruction that will ensue unless we take urgent action to tackle climate change, and yet there are still few signs that politicians or the public are listening. The talk will ask whether the media - both as an industry and as an information system - are part of the solution or part of the problem.
Toyota's R&D: Future Passenger Car Transport
Wednesday 22 April 2009
The Europe-Japan Dialogue is hosting a public lecture by Mr Gerald Killmann, Director, Powertrain Division, R&DCenter at Toyota Motor Europe. The event will start at 6 pm in the Sir Charles Wilson Building Lecture Theatre at the University of Glasgow.
Are you interested in learning about the future developments of the Passenger Car Transport industry within these uncertain economic times? If so, come and learn about Toyota's research and development plans in developing the hybrid and electric car. The seminar will focus on the following topics:
- Environmental concerns with regard to sustainability in general
- Resulting action of Toyota in recent years: Body area (lightweight etc), conventional powertrains, Hybrid
- Detailed history of hybrid in Toyota
- Analysis of various hybrid systems and decision reasons for Toyota Hybrid System concept
- Technical challenges and evolution of hybrid system
- Breakdown for each major system component and examples for development focus point for each component
- Future challenges and outlook for future transport technology in passenger cars
For more information & to register, please contact:
Yushin Toda on y.toda@enterprise.gla.ac.uk 0141 330 3701 or Kara Mackenzie on kara.mackenzie@enterprise.gla.ac.uk 0141 330 8643.
Renewable Energy: a Focus on Indonesia
Thursday 26 March 2009
The Sustainable Development Network and the Glasgow Centre for International Development are hosting a lecture by Scott Younger, Geotechnology Consultant. The event will be held at 5.30 pm in the Wolfson Medical School Building, Yudowitz seminar room 1.
The lecture flyer is available for download here: 090326 SDN/GCID lecture
Tooling up for the Challenge of Sustainable Environmental Engineering in India and the UK
Tuesday 24 March 2009
The programme is avaiable for download: 090324 Environmental Engineering Event
This event will take place from 9.30-17.00 in room 601 of the Rankine Building. Half the presentations will be given by Academics from IIT Delhi, who we are hosting in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Glasgow during the week of 23rd-27th March, using EPSRC international engagement funding (see EPSRC flyer). RCUK have recently opened an office in Delhi (www.india.rcuk.ac.uk/default.htm) and are keen to promote collaborations with India.
If you would like to attend all or part of the day could you please email Amanda Smith at A.Smith@civil.gla.ac.uk so that we can get approximate numbers for catering.
Integrated Development in Zambia: Environment, Biodiversity and Human Welfare
Thursday 26 February 2009
The Glasgow Centre for International Development is hosting a lecture by Dr. Kevin Murphy of the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Glasgow. The event will be held at 5.30 pm in the Wolfson Medical School Building seminar room 1 (the Yudowitz). More information is available on the GCID website.
2008 events
Wednesday 26th November 2008 Seminar given by Mr Tony Gloyne (Economics) entitled “Your Carbon Future”.
This will be held at 12.45pm in Room 601 of the Rankine Building, Oakfield Avenue. A light lunch will be available in the same room from 12.15pm. The speaker will be Tony Gloyne (Energy Economist), and the topic is related to proposed Government Carbon reduction targets; are they at all feasible? and how best to achieve them.
Wednesday 29th October 2008 the Clyde Urban Super Project, held at 12:45pm in Room 629 of the Rankine Building, Oakfield Avenue. A light lunch will be available in the same room from 12:15pm. The speaker will be Dairmad Campbell of the British Geological Survey and the topic is related to the Clyde River basin and the regeneration of the East End of Glasgow.