Working
towards low-carbon futures while understanding the societal challenges that brings was the theme of the 3rd International Conference on Energy Research
and Social Science 2022.
The
University of Manchester hosted 400 international delegates, made up of energy
sector academics and experts for the four-day conference held this week (June 20-23).
The aim of
the conference was to examine both theory and practice of all aspects of energy
from production to consumption, with topics including energy poverty, the role
of gender and just transitions – ensuring workers in high-carbon industries are
protected as we work towards low-carbon futures.
The
conference saw 198 oral presentations and 255 posters across more than 40
sessions. Early career researchers were also given access to a pre-conference
workshop.
Professor
Stefan Bouzarovski, conference chair, said: “The conference aims to offer a
vibrant and innovative forum for discussing the latest research on low-carbon
energy policy transformations. We were heavily oversubscribed, having received
a total of 1116 abstracts for oral and poster presentations.
“Reflecting
Manchester’s heritage, we have a strong commitment to questions of justice and
democracy – especially in relation to inequalities around gender, income,
development, and other axes of difference – and this is also reflected in our
line-up of outstanding keynote speakers and committee members.”
Keynote
speakers included, Cara Daggett, assistant professor of political science at
Virginia Tech, Dr Benjamin K. Sovacool, professor of energy policy, the
University of Sussex Business School, and Janette Webb, Edinburgh University professorial
fellow in social studies of energy.
In
conjunction with the conference, two free-to-download publications were made
available by Policy@Manchester: Energy inequality and low carbon futures: geography
matters and The importance of mapping in the shift to net zero. The
think pieces were led by early career researchers based at the People and Energy
theme within the Manchester Urban Institute and the Department of Geography.
