Glimpse into the future of energy

Environment

Two new public seminar series starting this month will offer insight into how developments in clean, cost-effective energy technology will shape our future.

Run by the University of Adelaide's Centre for Energy Technology, the free public seminars will focus on different aspects of energy.

Thinking Critically About Sustainable Energy - organised in conjunction with the Royal Institution of Australia - is a six-part seminar series that will bring together top energy experts to provide information and tools for the public to be able to critically assess future energy sources.

Public participation in this series is strongly encouraged, with time for questions from the audience.

The first seminar in the series, on the future of fossil fuels, will be held on Wednesday 7 July.

The other public seminar series, Energy Futures - organised in conjunction with the University's School of Earth and Environmental Sciences - is a 12-part series that will look at a range of clean energy technology options for the future.

The first of these seminars, on climate change, will be held on Wednesday 28 July.

"Our two new seminar series will give the public the opportunity to learn about the wide variety of new clean energy technology options, including those being developed at the University of Adelaide," said the Director of the Centre for Energy Technology, Professor Gus Nathan.

"Research into clean and efficient energy technologies is needed to deliver a clean energy future that addresses climate change and reduces the cost of energy.

"Both seminar series will feature members of the Centre who are internationally recognised for their research in such fields as the combustion of fossil fuels, bio-fuels, solar, geothermal, wind and wave energy, and energy efficiency. The seminars will also feature speakers from leading companies and organisations in the energy field.

"These public seminars aim to help the community to critically assess how each of these developments in energy technology may address our future energy needs," Professor Nathan said.

The Centre for Energy Technology is part of the Environment Institute and the Institute for Mineral and Energy Resources at the University of Adelaide.

Thinking Critically About Sustainable Energy

When: 6.00pm-7.30pm 7 July-8 December
Where: The Science Exchange, Exchange Place, Adelaide
Cost: free - all welcome. Registration required at: www.riaus.org.au

Energy Futures

When: 5.00pm-7.00pm each Wednesday from 28 July-15 September and 6-27 October
Where: Horace Lamb Lecture Theatre, North Terrace Campus, University of Adelaide
Cost: free - all welcome. No registration necessary for this series.

For more information about either series please email: environment@adelaide.edu.au or visit: www.adelaide.edu.au/environment/cet

Story by David Ellis