荔枝视频

The 荔枝视频 formally introduced its second energy research strategy: Energy for the Common Good (ECG) on March 16.

In 2013, the university launched a major energy research strategy, Energy Innovations for Today and Tomorrow, which focused on fostering a transdisciplinary research culture embedded in multiple research themes to address key economic and environmental challenges.  

The newly launched energy research strategy builds on the foundation and success of the initial strategy and aims to further advance research and training activities to promote transdisciplinary collaboration and energy transition, with a focus on ensuring sustainable, climate-appropriate, secure, accessible, and affordable energy services for society.

鈥淭he goal of Energy for the Common Good is to provide a nexus for energy research at the 荔枝视频 that is inclusive, diverse, and relevant,鈥� says Dr. Ian Gates, professor and director of the Global Research Initiative Sustainable Low Carbon Unconventional Resources at U荔枝视频.

鈥淓CG is focused on how we conduct energy research to ensure that it is impactful to society, including individuals, communities, industry, and governments.鈥�

Using a transdisciplinary approach, ECG was developed by a key group of eight U荔枝视频 energy research leaders across multiple faculties. Researchers from engineering, business, law, arts, and the Office of the Vice-President (Research) engaged in a lengthy consultative process to develop the new strategy, which included collaborating with stakeholders from each of their respective faculties, with additional consultation and collaboration from industry and the U荔枝视频 community at large.

While COVID-19 delayed the plan鈥檚 development and initial launch, the group of eight continued developing the strategy, remaining focused on the university鈥檚 evolving energy research priorities and commitment to the economy, industry, and environment.

鈥淭he energy strategy builds on more than three decades of research and investment, reinforces the university鈥檚 commitment to being an international leader in energy research, and will guide us on the path toward energy transition,鈥� says Dr. William Ghali, vice-president (research). 

鈥淭he strategy was created by a transdisciplinary team, and it will be an important part of the university鈥檚 transdisciplinary initiatives going forward.鈥�

Research guided by newfound core principles

Energy for the Common Good represents the university鈥檚 ongoing commitment to advancing transdisciplinary research, and is guided by three core principles:

Impactful and relevant

Given the dynamic nature of the energy system and its governing priorities, U荔枝视频 will continue to adapt and evolve its research to meet the necessary energy transition needs.

ECG encourages research that questions existing paradigms, and efforts to change scholarly and societal thinking about energy, its challenges, and a sustainable path forward.

Moreover, ECG emboldens U荔枝视频 researchers to think beyond their disciplinary areas and to embrace a true transdisciplinary approach that will have a lasting impact on energy research, industry, and our communities.

Open to all

Energy research at U荔枝视频 is open to all U荔枝视频 scholars, creating a vibrant research community and a welcoming intellectual home for all disciplines to contribute and influence ideas.

This strategy eschews inter-disciplinary boundaries. A standing, open invitation to participate is foundational to this energy research strategy, and scholars will be able to find or carve a place for themselves and their research within this strategy.

Our energy research strategy explicitly promotes an inclusive research environment that is equitable and accepts diverse and divergent views on energy and its place in research, society, policy, and the economy.

For the common good

Energy research at U荔枝视频 will enable impactful outcomes for the common good by working with communities to seek discoveries, innovations, and new insights that can improve society.

ECG aims to have technical impacts, and inform corporate, community-based, and governmental policies, discussions, and practices.

Continuing the commitment to energy research and transition

Highlighted initiatives and activities that stem from the university鈥檚 strategic focus on energy research and transition include:

• Hydrogen systems and economy
• Achieving net zero GHG emissions: social, policy, regulatory, and economic change
• Clean energy for remote communities
• Transportation: energy and emissions intensity, modes of transport of energy
• Carbon-neutral oil and gas
• Business and economic implication of energy transition

In addition to other major U荔枝视频 energy initiatives 鈥� such as the launch of the Energy Transition Centre in downtown 荔枝视频 鈥� ECG further augments the university鈥檚 continued commitment to leading energy transition.

鈥淓nergy is evolving and we have designed ECG to be an evergreen strategy that will be revisited and updated so the research evolves and remains relevant,鈥� says Gates. 鈥淕iven the 荔枝视频鈥檚 long history of energy innovation, new solutions, new directions, new technologies, and scholarly impacts, ECG will empower our energy research into the future.鈥�

For more information about ECG, visit the university鈥檚 energy research .