Future events

Our events page covers seminars from the Energy Network and selected, energy-related events across Oxford University. Student-led energy events can be found by visiting the Oxford Energy Society page.

15 Oct

COP29 Expert Panel Briefing: Hope, fear and fossil fuels at COP29

Rachel Kyte, UK climate envoy and Professor of Climate Policy, Blavatnik School of Government Professor Sam Fankhauser, Professor of Climate Economics and Policy, Oxford Smith School

THIS IS AN ONLINE ONLY EVENT COP29 is fast approaching and while concerns mount over the host country’s ties to oil and gas, NGOs, scientists and campaigners sound dire warnings that time is running out. These calls to action are backed up by a series of unprecedented weather events – hurricanes, fires and floods – that will pile pressure on world [...]

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15 Oct

Energy Seminar – Week 1 MT24: Catastrophe or hope — which stories should we tell to motivate domestic energy retrofit?

Dr Yekatherina Bobrova, John Doggart

THIS IS AN IN PERSON AND ONLINE EVENT Summary: Powerful narratives are increasingly seen as a key enabler to encourage societal transformation and break away from established values, norms and status quo. Which stories should we tell? The ones that emphasise the extent of the catastrophe in progress, in order to shift people’s priorities and facilitate action? Or the ones of [...]

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17 Oct

Condensed Matter Seminar – Harvesting Energy from the Cold Universe: The Missing Piece in the Renewables Puzzle

Prof. Ioannis Papakonstantinou

On a bright, warm day, the more than 1TW of installed solar power capacity Worldwide works tirelessly to light up our houses, charge our cars, power our business and in general, to seamlessly support our daily lives. This remarkable achievement has been made possible by over 40 years of advancements in photovoltaics, which convert the incoming Solar radiation into useful [...]

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18 Oct

Unearthing the impact of AI on the energy transition

Francisco Morejon Jaramillo, University of Oxford - Department for Education; Prof. Charlie Wilson, University of Oxford - ECI; Kirsty Lloyd-Jukes, Oxford Science Enterprises; Dr Nick Hawker, First Light Fusion; Dr Bettina Wittneben, Said Business School

This event is a collaboration between ZERO-Founders Network, Oxbridge-AIx and the Oxford AI Student Society including two start-up presentations showcasing cutting-edge AI and climate innovation followed by a panel discussion featuring renown and distinguished experts and academics from the wider Oxford ecosystem. Finally, an open mic session where attendees can ask questions or even pitch their own ideas.

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22 Oct

Energy Seminar – Week 2: Reconciling land uses on a crowded island to achieve Net Zero and more

Thomas Oliver, Environmental Manager, DESNZ

THIS IS AN IN PERSON AND ONLINE EVENT Summary: Pragmatic and strategic land use is crucial for addressing many of today’s pressing challenges, including achieving net zero, restoring biodiversity, and ensuring sustainable food, transportation, and housing for a growing population. Yet, current land use for energy production is somewhat ad hoc and often conflicts with these other land uses. This seminar [...]

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28 Oct

From Research to Policy: Nuts and Bolts of Effective Communication

Subhra Priyadarshini, Ehsan Masood

The ZERO Institute is hosting its inaugural policy event. Spaces are limited, so please register your place ASAP. Welcome drinks served from 5pm, event begins at 5:30pm. “From Research to Policy: Nuts and Bolts of Effective Communication,” features two editors from Nature Portfolio’s magazine editorial, who will share their expertise and insights on scientific research and impactful commentary and opinion. The ability to communicate complex research in a clear, [...]

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29 Oct

Energy Seminar – Week 3: The paradigm shift in fusion energy: How Kyoto Fusioneering is accelerating the path to commercialisation

Dr Richard Pearson, Co-founder Kyoto Fusioneering

THIS IS AN IN PERSON AND ONLINE EVENT Summary: Over the past decade, the fusion energy landscape has transformed dramatically, driven by scientific breakthroughs, technological innovations, and an influx of private investment. This paradigm shift has ushered in a new epoch, marked by unprecedented public-private partnerships and a shared ambition to bring commercial fusion to reality within a decade. In this [...]

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05 Nov

Energy Seminar – Week 4: Innovation in the context of the energy transition

Dr Claudia Centazzo

THIS IS AN INPERSON AND ONLINE EVENT Summary: The ESO has now become NESO, the National Energy System Operator, an independent public corporation with new planning and advisory responsibilities across the whole energy system. The drive toward decarbonisation and net zero has never felt more acute, a responsibility NESO take seriously. The energy sector continues to evolve at pace, developing new technologies [...]

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19 Nov

Energy Seminar – Week 6: The cleantech revolution. How the energy system will be disrupted this decade

Kingsmill Bond

THIS IS AN IN PERSON AND ONLINE EVENT Summary: Clean energy technologies have been enjoying exponential growth for decades, and are now causing disruption of the fossil fuel system.  Whilst the barriers are many, the drivers of change are more powerful and include falling costs, energy security, Chinese leadership, and the race to the top.  So we should expect exponential cleantech [...]

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26 Nov

Energy Seminar – Week 7: COP29 outcomes – from taking stock to taking action

Dr Nicholas Howarth

THIS IS AN IN PERSON AND ONLINE EVENT Summary: Last year nearly 200 countries at COP28 in Dubai agreed to a powerful package of energy commitments – the UAE Consensus – to help keep the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 °C alive. These included tripling renewable energy capacity, doubling the rate of energy efficiency progress, significantly reducing [...]

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03 Dec

Energy Seminar – Week 8: Gas in decline – what to do with the gas grid when we no longer need it?

Dr Jan Rosenow

THIS IS AN IN PERSON AND ONLINE EVENT Summary: The use of gas will decline dramatically as part of the transition to net zero. Modelling at European level shows that by 2050 about 70% less gaseous fuels will be used. Significant regulatory reform is needed to deal with the impacts of this decline on the gas grid. Fossil gas today serves [...]

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