About

The In Search of ‘Good’ Energy Policy research group focuses on energy policy from an interdisciplinary perspective. What constitutes a ‘good’ policy is conditioned not only by technology and financial factors but also by social norms and values, institutions, geopolitics, public trust and history.

The seminar series explores energy policy themes from different disciplinary perspectives – economics, history, philosophy, theology, politics, law, anthropology, psychology, engineering – with the aim of identifying principles and processes for ‘good’ energy policy making.

For more information about Energy@Cambridge Strategic Research initiative, please visit website Energy@Cambridge

Administrative assistance: Networks@crassh.cam.ac.uk

CRASSH is not responsible for the content of external websites and readings. All speakers' views are their own.

Convenors

Convenors

Dr Isabelle de Wounters  Director (Energy@Cambridge)
Professor Michael Pollitt  Chair (Judge Business School)
Dr Shafiq Ahmed Co-ordinatorEnergy@Cambridge)
Dr Paul Warde (Faculty of History)
Raheela Rehman (Energy@Cambridge)

Previous convenors

Dr Marc Ozawa (Judge Business School, Energy@Cambridge)
Dr Robert Doubleday (Centre for Science and Policy)
Dr Jonathan Chaplin (Kirby Laing Institute for Christian Ethics and Divinity)

Faculty Advisors/ Coordination group

Dr Jonathan Chaplin (Kirby Laing Institute for Christian Ethics and Tyndale House, Divinity)
Professor Tim Lewens (History and Philosophy of Science/CRASSH)
Dr David Reiner (Cambridge Judge Business School)
Professor Jorge Viñuales (Land Economy and Law)
Dr Paul Warde (Faculty of History)
Dr Kong Chyong (Judge Business School)
Professor Laura Diaz Anadon (Land Economy)
Dr Rob Doubleday (Centre for Scisence and Policy)
Dr Richard Frase (Social Anthropology)
Dr Marcus Gehring (Law)
Professor Lyn Gladden (Chemical Engineering
Dr David Good (Psychology)
Professor Mike Hulme (Geography)
Dr Kun-Chin Lin (POLIS)
Dr David Newbery (Economics)
Dr Jim Platts (Engineering)
Dr Robert Ritz (JBS)
Dr Sandy Skelton (Engineering)
Professor Bob White (Faraday Institute and Earth Sciences)

Programme 2018-19

In Search of Good Energy Policy
Ideas Generation Meeting
2 Oct 2018 12:30pm - 2:00pm, Seminar Room S1, 1st Floor Alison Richard Building, 7 West Road. NB Different room today*

In Search of Good Energy Policy

Evolving Houses, Demanding Practices: Rising Electricity Consumption-Pakistan
16 Oct 2018 12:30pm - 2:00pm, Seminar Room SG1, Alison Richard Building, 7 West Road

Rihab Khalid (Cambridge), Shailaja Fennell (Cambridge) – Search of Good Energy Policy

Past and Prospective Transitions in the UK Gas Industry – Some Interdisciplinary Insights
30 Oct 2018 12:30pm - 2:00pm, Seminar Room SG1, Alison Richard Building, 7 West Road

Peter Pearson (Imperial College London), David Reiner (Cambridge) – In Search of Good Energy Policy

Contestation, Contingency, and Justice in the Nordic Low-Carbon Energy Transition
13 Nov 2018 12:30pm - 2:00pm, Seminar Room SG1, Alison Richard Building, 7 West Roa

Benjamin Sovacool (Sussex), Jonathan Chaplin (Cambridge) –  In Search of Good Energy Policy

The Recovery of Natural Environments in Architecture
27 Nov 2018 12:30pm - 2:00pm, Seminar Room SG1, Alison Richard Building, 7 West Road

Dr Ruchi Choudhary (Cambridge), David Newbery (Cambridge) –  In Search of Good Energy Policy 

Energy Efficient Cities
15 Jan 2019 12:30pm - 2:00pm, Seminar Room SG1, Alison Richard Building, 7 West Road

Ruchi Choudhary (Cambridge) – In Search of Good Energy Policy

In Search of Invisible Energy Policy
29 Jan 2019 12:30pm - 2:00pm, Seminar Room SG1, Alison Richard Building, 7 West Road

Sarah Royston (Sussex) – In Search of Good Energy Policy

Hydropower Development in China
12 Feb 2019 12:30pm - 2:00pm, Seminar Room SG1, Alison Richard Building, 7 West Road

Yan Zhang (Cambridge) – In Search of Good Energy Policy

Emergence and Control in UK Energy Democratisation
26 Feb 2019 12:30pm - 2:00pm, Seminar Room SG1, Alison Richard Building, 7 West Road

Iain Soutar (Exeter) – In Search of Good Energy Policy

Ideas Generation Meeting
12 Mar 2019 12:30pm - 2:00pm, Seminar Room SG1, Alison Richard Building, 7 West Road

In Search of Good Energy Policy

UK Heat Transition
23 Apr 2019 12:30pm - 2:00pm, Seminar Room SG1, Alison Richard Building, 7 West Road, Cambridge, CB3 9DT

Lauren Stabler (Anglia Ruskin)

Internal Meeting
7 May 2019 12:30pm - 2:00pm, Seminar Room SG1, Alison Richard Building, 7 West Road, Cambridge, CB3 9DT
Is there a Lack of Incentives to Invest in Energy Efficient Buildings?
21 May 2019 12:30pm - 2:00pm, Seminar Room SG1, Alison Richard Building, 7 West Road, Cambridge, CB3 9DT

Franz Fuerst (Cambridge)

In Search of ‘Good’ Energy Policy. Book Panel Discussion
4 Jun 2019 12:30pm - 2:00pm, Seminar Room SG1, Alison Richard Building, 7 West Road, Cambridge, CB3 9DT

Book panel discussion.

Past Events

In Search of Good Energy Policy
Introduction to the Series 2015-16
6 Oct 2015 12:00pm - 2:00pm, Seminar Room SG1, Alison Richard Building

Speakers: Prof Michael Pollitt, Dr Marc Ozawa, Dr Isabelle de Wouters, Dr Jonathan Chaplin, Prof Tim Lewens, Dr Paul Warde, and Prof David Newbery, University of Cambridge

Geopolitics of Energy / Russian-European Gas
20 Oct 2015 12:00pm - 2:00pm, Seminar Room SG1, Alison Richard Building

Speaker: Prof Jonathan Stern, Oxford Institute for Energy Studies 
Respondents: Dr Chi Kong Chyong, Judge Business School, Energy Policy Research Group, University of Cambridge, Dr Richard Fraser, Climate Histories Research Group, University of Cambridge

Philosophy and Ethics of Energy / Nuclear Power
3 Nov 2015 12:00pm - 2:00pm, Seminar Room SG1, Alison Richard Building

Speaker: Prof Sabine Roeser, TU Delft 
Respondents: Prof Tim Lewens, History and Philosophy of Science, CRASSH, University of Cambridge 
Cyril Pinel, Nuclear Advisor, Embassy of France

History of Energy / Clean Air Policies
17 Nov 2015 12:00pm - 2:00pm, Seminar Room SG1, Alison Richard Building

Stephen Mosley (Leeds Beckett),  Paul Warde (Cambridge) at In Search of a 'Good' Energy Policy

Theology and Ethics of Energy / Oil Sands
1 Dec 2015 12:00pm - 2:00pm, Seminar Room SG1, Alison Richard Building

Speaker: Prof Michael Northcott, Divinity, University of Edinburgh 
Respondent: Dr Jonathan Chaplin, Kirby Laing Institute for Christian Ethics, Tyndale House, Divinity, University of Cambridge

Anthropology and Economics of Energy / Danish Heating Policies
12 Jan 2016 12:00pm - 2:00pm, Seminar Room SG1, Alison Richard Building

Speaker: Prof Frede Hvelplund, Aalborg University
Respondent: Dr Leslie-Anne Duvic Paoli, Law, Cambridge Centre for Environment, Energy and Natural Resource Governance, University of Cambridge

Political Science of Energy / UK Carbon Capture and Storage Policies
26 Jan 2016 12:00pm - 2:00pm, Seminar Room SG1, Alison Richard Building

Speaker: Dr David Reiner, Judge Business School, University of Cambridge 
Respondent: Chris Littlecott, E3G

Economics and Politics of Energy / Fracking in the US vs. Europe
9 Feb 2016 12:00pm - 2:00pm, Seminar Room SG1, Alison Richard Building

Speaker: Prof Paul Stevens, Chatham House – Royal Institute of International Affairs
Respondent: Dr Andrew Davison, Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge

History of Energy / Swedish Carbon Policies
23 Feb 2016 12:00pm - 2:00pm, Seminar Room SG1, Alison Richard Building

Speaker: Prof Magnus Lindmark, Geography and Economic History, Umeå University 
Respondent: Prof Michael Pollitt, Cambridge Judge Business School, University of Cambridge

Economics of Energy / The German Reaction to Fukushima
8 Mar 2016 12:00pm - 2:00pm, Seminar Room SG1, Alison Richard Building

Speaker: PD Dr Christian Growitsch, University of Hamburg 
Respondent: Mr Jiro Kida, Special Advisor to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan, Director of the Japan External Trade Organization in London (JETRO)

Business and Management Studies of Energy / Energy Mega-Projects
19 Apr 2016 12:00pm - 2:00pm, Seminar Room SG1, Alison Richard Building

Speaker: Dr Atif Ansar, Said Business School, University of Oxford 
Respondent: Dr Simon Taylor, Cambridge Judge Business School, University of Cambridge

Law and Energy / International Law and the Environmental and Social Impacts of Energy Policies
3 May 2016 12:00pm - 2:00pm, Seminar Room SG1, Alison Richard Building

Speaker: Dr Leslie-Anne Duvic-Paoli, Department of Law, Cambridge Centre for Environment, Energy and Natural Resource Governance, University of Cambridge 
Respondent: Professor Michael Pollitt, Judge Business School, University of Cambridge

CANCELLED-Wind Power in Mongolia and …
17 May 2016 12:00pm - 2:00pm, Seminar Room SG1, Alison Richard Building

Richard Fraser (Cambridge)-'Good' Energy Policy

Theology of Energy / Laudato Si’: Pope Francis’ encyclical on the environment and human ecology
31 May 2016 12:00pm - 2:00pm, Seminar Room SG1, Alison Richard Building

Speaker: Dr Hilary Marlow, Faraday Institute, University of Cambridge

Respondent: Prof Michael Pollitt, Cambridge Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, Dr Jim Platts, Institute of Manufacturing, University of Cambridge

The History of Prediction and Energy Systems of the Future
4 Oct 2016 12:30pm - 2:00pm, Seminar Room S1, 1st Floor. Alison Richard Building. NB Different room today*

Paul Warde (Cambridge), Matin Crouch (Ofgem)- at In Search of a “Good” Energy Policy
 

The Highway Boom: Politics, Energy demand and Emissions in China
18 Oct 2016 12:30pm - 2:00pm, Seminar Room SG1, Alison Richard Building

Kun-Chin Lin (Cambridge), David Newbery (Cambridge) – at In Search of a “Good” Energy Policy

Sino-Russian Oil and Gas Cooperation: Where it stands and how far it can go?
1 Nov 2016 12:30pm - 2:00pm, Seminar Room SG1, Alison Richard Building

Keun-Wook Paik (Oxford), Kun-Chin Lin (Cambridge) -at In Search of a “Good” Energy Policy

Investigating Cultures of Community Energy
15 Nov 2016 12:30pm - 2:00pm, Seminar Room SG1, Alison Richard Building

Rebecca Willis (Independent researcher), Joe Perkins (Ofgem) – at In Search of a “Good” Energy Policy

Europe’s Energy Security in the Wake of TTIP and Brexit:-A Legal Perspective
29 Nov 2016 12:30pm - 2:00pm, Seminar Room SG1, Alison Richard Building

Anna Marhold (Tilburg, Netherlands), Martin Daunton (Cambridge)- at In Search of a “Good” Energy Policy

The New Institutional Economics of Chinese Power Sector Reform
17 Jan 2017 12:30pm - 2:00pm, Seminar Room SG1, Alison Richard Building

Michael Pollitt (JBS Cambridge) – at In Search of a “Good” Energy Policy

Ethics and Energy
31 Jan 2017 12:30pm - 2:00pm, Seminar Room SG1, Alison Richard Building

Simon Caney (Oxford) – at In Search of a “Good” Energy Policy

Inherent Inconsistency of EU Energy Policymaking
14 Feb 2017 12:30pm - 2:00pm, Seminar Room SG1, Alison Richard Building

Oliver Geden (German Institute for International and Security Affairs) – at In Search of a “Good” Energy Policy

Energy Transitions in the 20th Century
28 Feb 2017 12:30pm - 2:00pm, Seminar Room SG1, Alison Richard Building

Frank Trentmann (Birkbeck, London) – at In Search of a “Good” Energy Policy

The Clean Air Act Panel
14 Mar 2017 12:30pm - 2:00pm, Seminar Room SG1, Alison Richard Building

Christine Corton (Wolfson College), Michael Pollitt (JBS), Jaqueline Lam (Visitor at JBS)- at In Search of a “Good” Energy Policy

Influence and the Role of the Expert
25 Apr 2017 12:30pm - 2:00pm, Seminar Room SG1, Alison Richard Building

Influence and the Role of the Expert
Susan Owens (Cambridge) at In Search of a “Good” Energy Policy

The Role of Law in Energy Transitions: Lessons from Community Renewables
9 May 2017 12:30pm - 2:00pm, Seminar Room SG1, Alison Richard Building

Annalisa Savaresi (Stirling) at In Search of a “Good” Energy Policy

Evaluation of US Energy Programme on Clean Energy Startups
23 May 2017 12:30pm - 2:00pm, Seminar Room SG1, Alison Richard Building

Laura Diaz Anadon (Cambridge) at In Search of a “Good” Energy Policy

Defining ‘Good’ in ‘Good Energy Policy’: Insights from Theologies and Religions
6 Jun 2017 12:30pm - 2:00pm, Seminar Room SG1, Alison Richard Building

Jonathan Chaplin (Kirby Laing Institute for Christian Ethics) at In Search of a “Good” Energy Policy

What’s under the Pot? Rural Women and Cooking Energy in South Asia
3 Oct 2017 12:00pm - 2:00pm, Seminar Room S1, First floor, Alison Richard Building. NB Different room today*

Bina Agarwal (Manchester) – In Search of a 'Good' Energy Policy

Comparison of Air Pollution Trends and Policies in London and Beijing
17 Oct 2017 12:00pm - 2:00pm, Seminar Room SG1, Alison Richard Building

Jacqueline Lam (Cambridge and Hong Kong)- In Search of a 'Good' Energy Policy

Internal planning meeting
31 Oct 2017 12:00pm - 2:00pm, Close meeting

No session today – In Search of a 'Good' Energy Policy

Politics and Political Ecology of Charcoal in Uganda
14 Nov 2017 12:00pm - 2:00pm, Seminar room SG1, Alison Richard Building

Adam Branch (Cambridge) – In Search of a 'Good' Energy Policy

Solar Energy, Skills Development and Employment Opportunities in India
28 Nov 2017 12:00pm - 2:00pm, Seminar room SG1, Alison Richard Building

Shailaja Fennell  (Cambridge)- In Search of a 'Good' Energy Policy

Behavioural Science around Policy Incentives to Reduce Energy Consumption
16 Jan 2018 12:00pm - 2:00pm, Seminar room SG1, Alison Richard Building

Sander van der Linden (Cambridge) – In Search of a 'Good' Energy Policy

Slow Energy Policy in a Time of Global Emergencies
30 Jan 2018 12:00pm - 2:00pm, Seminar room SG1, Alison Richard Building

Jeremy Kidwell (Birmingham) – In Search of a 'Good' Energy Policy     

Is Demand Side Response a Woman’s Work? Gender Dynamics
13 Feb 2018 12:00pm - 2:00pm, Seminar room SG1, Alison Richard Building

Charlotte Johnson (UCL) – In Search of a 'Good' Energy Policy

Internal planning meeting
27 Feb 2018 12:00pm - 2:00pm, Seminar room SG1, Alison Richard Building

Close event – In Search of a 'Good' Energy Policy

POSTPONED: Fukushima and the Law
13 Mar 2018 12:00pm - 2:00pm, Seminar room SG1, Alison Richard Building

Julius Weitzdörfer (Cambridge) – In Search of a 'Good' Energy Policy

In Search of ‘Good’ Energy Policy Ideas Generation (Closed Meeting)
24 Apr 2018 12:00pm - 2:00pm, Room 4.05, Judge Business School (Fourth Floor)

 In search of ‘Good’ Energy Policy Ideas Generation meeting

Electricity Market Reform and Development in China
8 May 2018 12:00pm - 2:00pm, Seminar room SG1, Alison Richard Building

Guy Liu (Peking) – In Search of a 'Good' Policy Energy

Fukushima and the Law
22 May 2018 12:00pm - 2:00pm, Seminar room SG1, Alison Richard Building

Julius Weitzdörfer (Cambridge) – In Search of a 'Good' Energy Policy

WEF – Water Energy Food Energy Policy: Supporting the Diffusion of Anaerobic Digestion
5 Jun 2018 12:00pm - 2:00pm, Seminar room SG1, Alison Richard Building

Liz Varga (Cranfield) – In Search of a 'Good' Energy Policy

Books

 

The In Search of ‘Good’ Energy Policy (GEP, for short), and Grand Challenge Initiative of the Energy@Cambridge Interdisciplinary Research Centre (IRC), was supported by CRASSH to run the seminar series (from October 2015 to June 2019) which attracted audiencesboth  from universities and external memebers of the public. The network brought together leading academics from across the social sciences and humanities to offer an innovative look at why science and technology, and the typr of quantification  they champion, cannot alone meet the needs of energy policy making in the future.

A book 'In Search of a Good Energy Policy' based on the discussions was published by Cambrodge University Press and launched at the British Academy on 9 September 2019, where some of the authors and key policemakers spoke about how understanding multidisciplinary research and collaboration is essential to crafting good energy policy. The book brings together forty contributing authors, across twenty-two chapters and twelve disciplines, both academic and practitioners based in eleven disciplinary approaches, single disciplinary cases and multi-disciplinary cases.

'Drawing on political science, economics, philosophy, theology, social anthropology, history, management studies, law, and other subject areas, In Search of Good Energy Policy brings together leading academics from across the social sciences and humanities to offer an innovative look at why science and technology, and the type of quantification they champion, cannot alone meet the needs of energy policy making in the future.

Featuring world-class researchers from the University of Cambridge and other leading universities around the world, this innovative book presents an interdisciplinary dialogue in which scientists and practitioners reach across institutional divides to offer their perspectives on the relevance of multi-disciplinary research for ‘real world’ application. This work should be read by anyone interested in understanding how multidisciplinary research and collaboration is essential to crafting good energy policy.'

CENTRE FOR RESEARCH IN THE ARTS, SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES

Tel: +44 1223 766886
Email enquiries@crassh.cam.ac.uk