Transcript Otago Energy Research Centre General Meeting

The Otago Energy Research
Centre …
…links a diverse spectrum of researchers
who share a common goal of assisting
the transformation of New Zealand’s
energy system to one which is efficient,
secure, sustainable, and carbon neutral.
OERC steering committee
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Rob Lawson
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CSAFE
Economics
Sarah Wakes
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Applied Sciences
Paul Thorsnes
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Physics
Becky Ford
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Information Science
Mick Abbott
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Medicine
Inga Smith
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Biochemistry
Maryam Purvis
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Physics
Hank Weiss
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CSAFE
Bob Lloyd
Julian Eaton-Rye
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Marketing
Janet Stephenson
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Applied Sciences
Ross Vennell
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Ocean Physics
Highlights Last Year
a) NERI Winter Lights thought leadership forum – 16th June.
This was a joint event with over 70 registered and was held in
the Otago Museum.
b) Cafe Scientifique - 16th June. New Zealand's Energy Future:
How will we meet our future energy needs? Speaker – Dr Bob
Lloyd. Museum Café, over 60 attended.
c) James Hansen visit – 18th May. Human made climate change, a
scientific moral and legal issue. Public lecture over 1000
people. DCC address, over 100 people. Climate scientist lunch,
12 people.
d) UKERC Summer School – 26th June to 1st of July. OERC
supported two students to attend the event at Warwick
University.
e) Summer Scholarships – OERC awarded one
summer scholarship to CSAFE, and also
helped arrange a second scholarship which
was awarded by the scholarships office to
physics.
f) Climate & energy awareness – OERC
supported several public events
i)“Cheer Up Bob” - 27th July. Public lecture on
climate mitigation which filled St David.
ii)“350 day of action”- 24th September. Promoted
climate awareness. Dunedin North
Intermediate hall. Over 300 attended.
iii)“Win our vote” – 25th August. Politicians’
strategies for climate change mitigation. Burns
lecture theatre. Over 80 attended.
g) Eric Martinot public lecture – 25th March. Renewable
Energy: Current Global Trends and Possible Long
Term Futures. Archway lecture theatre, over 100
attended.
h) Seed funding for research
i) tourism energy consumption in the Ross Sea region. Dr
Inga Smith (Physics), Dr Anna Thompson and Carla
Jellum (Tourism).
ii) the relationship between energy and food related
waste. It involved Dr Miranda Mirosa (Food Science),
Dr Mick Abbott (Applied Science) and Dr John
Morrissey (Design, RMIT).
i) Student travel funding – Will Catton presented work
from his PhD at a Nordic drying conference in June.
Activities this year
Funding
 Seed research grants 2 x $2500
 Student summer scholarship $5000
 Student travel grants 3 x $1000
 Travel funding for guest speakers/
energy related meetings – up to $1000
Upcoming events
 Cafe’ Scientifique’ June 2012
 Research workshop TBA
 Public lectures
 Joint NERI conference ?
 OERC Symposium Nov 2012