The Geological Society is holding a 2 day hybrid conference from 26th April to 27th April 2022 titled ‘Energy Transition Discussion Meeting;  What does Geoscience need to do now for a sustainable transition to net zero?’

The shift to a net zero carbon future is a pressing international effort. The Geosciences play a pivotal role in enabling this increasingly urgent energy transition, driving innovation, supporting business and facilitating a sustainable and socially just transition.

Geological knowledge will allow the sourcing of essential raw materials, in particular critical metal resources, for low carbon energy infrastructure including transportation, construction, and engineering. Responsible resource stewardship is critical to the development of circular economies, reducing waste and environmental impact and supporting sustainable communities. Geological solutions will underpin new technologies for energy production, transfer and storage – including geothermal.

Geoscientists are thus uniquely placed to support policy makers, industry, and other stakeholders, in the management of Earth resources fundamental to the Energy Transition. The Geological Society’s Energy Transition theme champions this goal, supporting communication between academia, business, government, and public communities, and aims to inspire a new generation of geoscientists.

The Energy Transition Discussion Meeting is a 2-day Hybrid conference in April 2022, which aims to identify what Geoscience needs to do now to meet the net zero targets in a fair and sustainable way – to support policy, business and innovation, and in parallel develop new scientific and engineering knowledge and solutions. It will connect and engage the Geoscience community with key stakeholders in society, government and beyond, and through multi-way discussion, the event will both tease out and integrate geoscience, policy, sustainable development and the Energy Transition. In doing so, it will identify new opportunities for Geoscience research, development and impact, and critically ask what the Geosciences need to do now for a sustainable transition.

Please contact conference@geolsoc.org.uk  with any enquiries.

Provisional Programme

This is a hybrid meeting (in person and online) and will consist of invited speaker sessions and panel discussions. Further details of the programme and confirmed speakers will be updated on an ongoing basis.

Convenors

• Dr Nick Gardiner (St Andrews)
• Dr Sarah Gordon (Satarla)
• Prof Stuart Haszeldine (Edinburgh)
• Dr Jen Roberts (Strathclyde)
• Dr Dan Smith (Leicester)
• Rob Knipe (Leeds)

Panellists

• Karen Hanghøj (BGS)
• Natasha Dowey (Geology for Global Development)
• Richard Herrington (Natural History Museum)
• Benjamin Sovacool (University of Sussex)
• Kathryn Moore (Exeter University)
• Ruth Allington (Collaborative Problem Solving and incoming GSL president)