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 Rob Lawson

Marketing

Janet Stephenson CSAFE

Bob Lloyd Physics

Hank Weiss Medicine

Inga Smith Physics

Becky Ford CSAFE

Julian Eaton-Rye Biochemistry

Maryam Purvis Information Science

Mick Abbott Applied Sciences

Paul Thorsnes Economics

Sarah Wakes Applied Sciences

Ross Vennell Ocean Physics

Highlights Last Yeara) 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 yearFunding 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