University of Bath launch Institute for Sustainable Energy & the Environment
Environmental Sustainability is the core ethos behind the development of the new Institute for Sustainable Energy and the Environment (I-SEE) at the University of Bath. I-SEE has been set up to combine the expertise of world-class researchers from diverse disciplines of science, engineering, economics, management and social science to address the problems posed by climate change. I-SEE engages with 13 Departments/Schools and 7 research centres across the University.
The mission of I-SEE is to focus, integrate, enhance and demonstrate fundamental and applied
research on sustainable energy and the environment, both now and for future generations. It will
seek to enhance both the University’s effectiveness at meeting this agenda, and its national and
international reputation as a research institute focused on significant real-world
issues.
Professor Saiful Islam, Deputy Director for I-SEE, added “I-SEE reflects the growing focus on ‘
green technology’ at the University, which is a major centre for sustainable energy and chemical
research”.
I-SEE has been developed by Dr Miles Davis, Research Portfolio Manager (Energy & the
Environment), within the University of Bath’s Research Development and Support Office (RDSO). The
key role of RDSO is to provide an inclusive service to support and enhance the University’s
international reputation by growing externally funded research, improving grant application success
rates and enhancing strategic and operational support to academic departments. Externally, RDSO is
the primary conduit for industry, business and other funders to access the research expertise and
knowledge of the University of Bath.
I-SEE was launched on Wednesday 17 September by David Willetts MP, Shadow Secretary of State
for Innovation, Universities & Skills, and coincided with the Energy Research Showcase at the
University of Bath.
The Showcase hosted an exhibition of some of the region's innovative and cutting edge research
in the fields of sustainable energy and the environment at the Universities of Bath, Bristol, the
West of England, Great Western Research and the Royal Agricultural College.
Key areas of research at the Showcase included:
·Future sources of energy: including solar, hydrogen and wind power;
·Energy efficiency and demand reduction: including low carbon building materials, biodiesel
from microalgae, and low carbon transportation;
·Economics of climate change: including green taxes, subsidies for renewable energy and
environmental sustainability; and
·Social psychology of environmental issues, environmental ethics and promoting behavioural
change.
At the Showcase Professor Jane Millar, AcSS, OBE, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research at the
University, said: “We are delighted the University is hosting such an important event which draws
together some of the leading experts on environmental sustainability from across the region”.
The exhibition was attended by key industrialists, research councils, local and national
government officials and other key stakeholders from across the South West, including: EPSRC,
SWERDA, EA, Qinetiq, Airbus and Rolls Royce.