Changes to the organisation of the Oxford Energy Network
As some of you will know, Professor Sir Chris Llewellyn Smith has stepped down from his role as Director of Energy for the University, and therefore as network convenor, after 7 years. Chris has made huge steps forward in the way we collaborate on, and publicise, energy research in Oxford. He will be a difficult act to follow, but we are going to try.
Chris’s role has been taken on by Nick Eyre, who many of you will know. And I have recently taken over the co-ordination of the Oxford Energy Network. The primary role of the network is to communicate across the twelve segments of the network.
In the short term, at least, we are going to aim to maintain the forms of interaction Chris has established – namely the Oxford Energy network website, a weekly Energy Colloquium, periodic meetings for the policy community, drawing on Oxford research insights, and an annual Energy Day. We have already begun to put plans in place, with the support of a Steering group for the network drawn from most of the departments undertaking energy-related research.
We are also keen to support funding applications wherever we can, by providing a “pathway to impact”, and making links to other relevant researchers. Nick and I aim to visit every department in the network this year to discuss priorities. In the meantime, if you have a funding proposal where OEN may be able to assist with an interdisciplinary collaboration, please get in touch with me.
We have been asked to report to the University on funding activity connected to OEN, and therefore are beginning to track successful energy research applications in the university, and would be pleased to hear from Network members about any such activity which may have been assisted by the network, and about energy research proposals submitted or announced in Michaelmas Term 2017. It would be appreciated if you could let me have this as soon as possible as we have been asked to submit this report in W2HT.
The network website is the main ‘window to the world’ on energy research in Oxford and we will try to capture all significant developments. If you have any new projects or information, which I can add to the website, this would be appreciated.
Anne L. Ryan