Hall sustainability seminar explores emerging technologies

On Friday 28 November, St Edmund Hall hosted the sixth event in the Suman Conversations in Environmental Sustainability series, featuring an expert panel discussing the question: “Powering the Future: How Sustainable and Scalable are Emerging Energy Solutions?”

Chaired by the Principal of St Edmund Hall and Oxford Professor of Biodiversity, Professor Baroness (Kathy) Willis, the seminar brought together specialists to explore emerging energy technologies — from biotechnologies and algae-based biofuels to hydrogen — and to consider their potential for large-scale implementation. The panel also reflected on the considerable improvements the UK has made in energy efficiency, driven by everyday essentials such as more efficient appliances and lighting.

The panel of expert speakers included Madiha Hasan, Non-Executive Director at HutanBio, HYCAP, Hygen Energy, & Ryze Hydrogen; Dr John C. Waite, CEO at Phycobloom; Professor Wei Huang, Professor of Biological Engineering, Oxford University; Fellow of St Edmund Hall and Dr Tina Fawcett, Associate Professor at the Environmental Change Institute, Oxford University. The dialogue continued in the drinks reception which followed the event, and over dinner in the Old Dining Hall.

The “Suman Conversations in Environmental Sustainability: beyond greenwashing” series presents a termly seminar which brings together leading thinkers and decision-makers from across academia, business, government and NGOs to look beyond greenwashing. Each term, a panel examines a specific issue related to environmental sustainability, exploring how to effectively marry environmental, social and governance goals with financial returns, innovation and other business imperatives.

Catch up on the latest seminar on the Hall’s YouTube channel.