PastLectures
If you missed any of Glyndwr Talks' lectures, you can catch up here.
Climate Change, Russian Gas, and Energy Bills: A Perfect Storm
David Sprake, Senior Lecturer in Renewable and Sustainable Engineering gave a talk in January about UK energy and climate change. You could hear a pin drop in the lecture theatre as David outlined some startling facts about how electricity bills are generated and how much carbon dioxide other countries are producing.
David began the lecture by outlining climate change and how it came about, focusing on carbon dioxide and the greenhouse effect. He then showed us how carbon dioxide is rising, notably since the inception of industry. Next, David presented to the audience the different types of energy generation and the pros and cons of each one, leaning heavily in favour of renewable energy resources and describing the initial cost of implementation. This led into a mention of COP meetings, where world leaders gather to address the challenge of Climate Change, with more stark visual evidence that not a lot seems to have changed since the first meeting in 1995.
There was lively discussion after the lecture with many great questions posed to a well-prepared David! But if you never had chance to ask your question, or you want to find out more, please contact him at d.sprake@glyndwr.ac.uk.
Glyndwr Talks David Sprake 19 Jan 2023 - presentation slides
Is it too much to ask? Engineering creates the infrastructure that enables a civilization: How should engineering rise to the challenges of Climate Change to preserve our continued existence?
Professor Alison McMillan, Professor of Aerospace Technology, gave a talk on December 1st about Transition Engineering, and how we are all responsible for thinking of ways to tackle climate change.
Alison opened by setting the context, discussing how each of us and our varied differences should work together to solve these big problems in society. She then outlined the issues with the way that the aerospace industry and those in positions of power market and communicate potential solutions to the carbon dioxide and climate change problems.
The concept of Transition Engineering is introduced, that is, designing changes in lifestyles and the way we use machines, with examples of transitioning from one type of public transport to another whilst infrastructural changes are made on a large scale. Alison ends with a fascinating appendix on the potential issues with adopting hydrogen as a main fuel source, exemplifying the need for us to go back to the drawing board and work together to find viable long-term solutions.
If you have any questions on the lecture, email Alison at a.mcmillan@glyndwr.ac.uk
Can academia add value to SME and large businesses? The role of the modern University in supporting businesses with advanced Photonics technology solutions.
Professor Caroline Gray OBE, Professor of Enterprise, Engagement, and Knowledge Transfer gave a fascinating lecture in October about how universities can help the photonics industry to develop and achieve their goals.
Caroline outlined the positive impacts of the Centre for Photonics Expertise (CPE) research group partnership, which was a collaboration between four Welsh universities. Caroline also gave some case study examples of how the CPE has helped businesses to innovate, such as counting tiles for Welsh Slate, inscribing QR codes on Diamonds for Diamond Centre Wales, and UV sterilisation techniques for Space Republic.
If you’re in the photonics and optics industry and need help to innovate or turn your ideas into viable capability or products, contact Caroline at The Optic Centre to discuss your needs at c.gray@glyndwr.ac.uk.
'Rose West on the stand: judgements of credibility in criminal trials' with Dr Caroline Gorden
"This lecture will make you think about guilt and innocence in a different way and you may find yourself wondering if perhaps the truth is not what is, but what is agreed on."
'The price of a pint? Can Welsh alcohol policy do good?' with Dr Wulf Livingston.
"Much the same way that Scottish Government wanted to demonstrate their own impact in the world with minimum unit pricing, you can see that the Welsh Government is asserting in its own well-being agenda through minimum unit pricing."
