Agenda PDF

 Transdisciplinary Research in Energy Transitions Roundtable with Dr. Sebastian Helgenberger, IASS-­‐TPEC Potsdam Thursday, 19th of March 2015, 11-­‐12 am (3 pm1) ETH Zurich, ML E 13, Sonneggstr. 3, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland Background The restructuring of the contemporary energy systems set a significant challenge for European institutions and economies to foster the provision of environmental-­‐friendly energy. Germany and Switzerland decided to stop nuclear power, therefore need to push not only technological change but equally societal change. To be sustainable, however, progress in technology and innovation needs to go hand in hand with societal transformation. To stimulate the energy transition in Switzerland, the Federal Council decided to support large-­‐scale research and innovation activities. Apart from the Swiss Competence Centers for Energy Research (SCCERs), the National Research Programs 70/71 and the Energy Change Impact-­‐Program of WSL and Eawag stimulate new research projects. Being at the onset, these programs have a vivid interest in producing knowledge that can be successfully transferred to various stakeholders who, in the ideal case, have already been involved in its generation. The Roundtable on “Transdisciplinary Research in Energy Transitions” is meant to facilitate the Swiss-­‐
German dialogue on lessons learnt and potential synergies to use. IASS Transdisciplinary Panel on Energy Change (IASS-­‐TPEC) Founded in 2009, the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies, Potsdam (IASS) integrates and mobilizes knowledge from science, society and politics to initiate and support sustainability transformations. Through its “Transformation of the Energy System” Programme, IASS-­‐TPEC provides scientific guidance to drive and shape energy transitions in Germany, in Europe and internationally. TPEC connects insights in terms of technology, enabling environments as well as in terms financial frameworks to meet the promise of a sustainable energy for all. As facilitator of transdisciplinary dialogues, IASS–TPEC understands the German Energiewende in its European and global dimensions and connects successful practices and lessons learned from the German Energiewende and energy transitions elsewhere. 1 Continued discussion after lunch for those who are interested in a more intensive dialogue. Current thematic foci include: ·∙ International Dimension of the German Energiewende ·∙ Sharing global opportunity of renewable energy ·∙ Coal consensus – shaping structural change ·∙ Markets and Infrastructure for 100% Renewable Energy ·∙ Transformative and citizen-­‐centered energy governance Agenda 11:00 Introduction Dr. Astrid Björnsen Gurung, Program Coordinator Energy Change Impact 11:05 Transdisciplinary Research in Energy Transitions: The German example Dr. Sebastian Helgenberger, IASS-­‐TPEC 11:35 Energy Research in Switzerland: The role of transdisciplinarity and KTT Urs Elber, Managing Director Research focus Area Energy, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, EMPA 11:55 Transdisciplinary Research for the Swiss Energy Transition2 Short Inputs by Swiss Researchers and Program Coordinators SCCER Storage – Jörg Roth SCCER FURIES – Georgios Sarantakos SCCER Mobility – Konstantinos Boulouchos et al. SCCER Biosweet – Simone Nanzer SCCER CREST I – Carmen Kobe SCCER CREST II – Jörn Richert NFP70/71 – Theres Paulsen Energy Impact Program – Astrid Björnsen 12:35 Issues for continued discussion in the afternoon All 12:45 Lunch 13:45 Discussion 1. Shared research interests and areas of work – current / planned activities, emerging topics 2. Potential to collaborate in „Transdisciplinary Research in energy transitions“ 3. Sharing approaches and capacities to organize transdisciplinary collaboration on an international level All 15:00 Closing Language English. 2
The 5’-­‐presentations address the following issues: (1) Background and objectives of the research program/competence center; current and planned activities; (2) The role of transdisciplinarity within the program, incl. KTT (current tools, practices and indicators); (3) Potential to collaborate with partners; approaches and capacities to organize transdisciplinary collaboration at a national and/or international level. 2 Biosketch Sebastian Helgenberger Dr. Sebastian Helgenberger heads the Transdisciplinary Panel on Energy Change (TPEC) at IASS. Sebastian Helgenberger graduated in Environmental Studies at Leuphana University Lüneburg and conducted his master thesis at ETH Zurich on the societal impact of transdisciplinary research. He also holds a PhD in socio-­‐economics. Between 2010 and 2014 Sebastian held the position as scientific research coordinator for European Research Policy at BOKU Centre for Global Change and Sustainability in Vienna, where he also chaired the international JPI CLIMATE Working Group of research funders and experts on 'societal transformation in the face of climate change'. Between 2010 and 2013 Sebastian Helgenberger coordinated the organizational development of the Climate Change Centre Austria (CCCA) as national alliance of climate research institutions and managed the CCCA secretariat during this period. Throughout his activities Sebastian Helgenberger has been committed to advancing and experimenting with the transdisciplinary and transformative potential of science and research to accompany societal change and also brings his enthusiasm for an open access to knowledge to IASS. Participants Scientists and coordinators of Swiss energy research programs with an interest in facilitating successful knowledge and technology transfer and stimulating change processes for the energy transformation in Switzerland, Europe and globally. Björnsen Gurung, Astrid Research Program Energy Change Impact, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL Boulouchos, Konstantinos SCCER Mobility, ETH Bürgi, Michael SCCER Mobility, ETH Elber, Urs Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, EMPA Helgenberger, Sebastian Transdisciplinary Panel on Energy Change, Institute of Advanced Sustainability Studies, TPEC IASS Potsdam, Germany Kobe, Carmen SCCER CREST, ZHAW School of Management and Law Nanzer, Simone SCCER BIOSWEET, Paul Scherrer Institute Paulsen, Theres National Research Programm 70 and 71 and td-­‐net Scnat Pohl, Christian USYS td-­‐net, ETH Zurich Richert, Joern SCCER CREST, Institute of Political Science, University of St. Gallen Romera Guereca, Gloria SCCER Mobility, ETH Roth, Jörg SCCER Storage, Paul Scherrer Institute Sarantakos, Georgios SCCER FURIES, EPFL Weber, Christine Eawag River Project Contact Astrid Björnsen Gurung Energy Change Impact Program Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL Zürcherstr. 111 8903 Birmensdorf E: [email protected] P: +41 44 739 28 68 3 Location map 4