The Centre for Energy Ethics

Directed by Dr Mette High, the Centre for Energy Ethics  provides a rare platform for collaboration across arts, humanities, social and natural sciences. It brings together our different disciplinary strengths as we pursue the guiding question of not only ‘what can we do’, but also ‘what should we do’ in order to create a better energy future for us all.

To extend these critical conversations across sectors and reach diverse global audiences, the Centre has developed a range of initiatives. Since the Centre’s official launch in February 2021:

  • we have created The Energy Cafe, which is an informal, open and inclusive space where people across University of St Andrews, from undergraduates to Professors Emeriti, can come together on a regular basis to share ideas about energy research
  • we have organised a week-long workshop A Place for Oil, exploring in depth the memorialisation and legacy-building of oil in museums across the world
  • we have started an innovative collaboration with the University of St Andrews Music Centre on a Call for Composers, where we asked musicians to compose pieces inspired by the Art of Energy Exhibition 2021 curated by our researchers - the commissioned pieces will be performed by student musicians as part of Fringe of Gold, the University’s wind, brass and percussion festival
  • we have challenged students across disciplines to present their dissertation research exploring the themes of energy and climate change to non-expert audiences through our inaugural 3M Planet competition - celebrating student researchers at the University and developing their public engagement skills
  • we have hosted a debate panel on Energy Transitions in Central and Eastern Europe to explore the complex and critically important social aspects of transitioning to low-carbon futures
  • we have partnered with the University of Ghana to organise AFRICA@2050 Climate Fiction Competition followed by a workshop that brought together experts on climate science and policy in Africa with emerging African writers to discuss both predictions and targets for climate futures, and alternative imaginaries
  • we have launched a Policy Engagement Practice seminar series, PEPtalks, to inspire academics to engage with policy making and equip them with the practical skills needed, thus facilitating increased policy impact of our research
  • we have created The Energy Blog and the All About Energy Podcast to offer, together with our invited guests, current and thought-provoking commentary on energy news and various energy conversations happening around the world
  • in the lead-up to COP26 we are preparing to host an interdisciplinary and international Energy Ethics Conference to reflect carefully on envisioned energy transitions and elicit new insights into what they might entail

If you would like to find out more about our activities or are interested in collaborating with us, please contact us.