Format
Sandwiched between the opening and closing workshop is an eight-week research program that researchers at all levels are encouraged to apply to. The purpose of this program is to produce ideas and research in the green energy space that address issues raised in the opening workshop or subsequent discussions. Researchers on site (and remote) are encouraged to form “project” groups, focusing on a specific issue for which group members collaboratively provide complementary skills. The “project” may be a reading group, an existing research problem, a specific question, a response to a call for proposals, or some other networking activity. It is expected that at least two members of the group will be present at IMSI for a period within the eight weeks.
Each week will consist of a couple of “second day seminars” where newly-arrived researchers in the program at IMSI will provide a 20 minute talk that will introduce them to other researchers, describe their proposed research project at IMSI, its current status and its goals (optional for students and post-docs). Furthermore, each week there will also be a “review/progress” meeting where one or more of the groups outlines progress on their project and current needs or next steps. Both of these will be available for hybrid participants.
There will also be a weekly “brown bag” lunch where informal discussions with at most two slides will foster new problems or group building. Four sessions devoted to communications bootcamp training will be spread throughout the program for interested participants.
An informal morning coffee each day will also help broad interactions, while snacks and tea will be provided each afternoon for follow up discussions on the days activities. The remainder of the time is for research – discussions, modeling, writing, explorations – we aim to make this a productive time for all present.
All researchers are able to participate in all activities. However, we see distinct learning and networking opportunities for early career researchers, including access to the collaborative research process and interaction with leaders in the field, the chance to build up a new network of colleagues with varied skills and at different career stages, the chance to learn communication strategies from IMSI staff, and a supportive environment to allow thought processes to develop and mature.
Calendar of Events
This public Google calendar lists currently planned events for non-workshop weeks; events begin in June 2024 (you might have to scroll):
Schedule of 30-minute Onboarding Talks
We have a public Google document with all scheduled 30-minute onboarding talks from program participants. This document will be updated as more information becomes available.
Suggested Background Reading
The organizers have shared a white paper (opens a PDF) as suggested background reading for long program participants. (It is also available at: https://www.geec.auckland.ac.nz/geecpublications/ ). A two part podcast from Michael Liebreich of BloombergNEF provides complementary information to this mathematical treatment in the form of a two part blog.
Broader social and political aspects that directly impact our program are discussed in the following articles:
- On empirical evidence and cases of what we have learnt from various decarbonization policies around the world. Authors from China, India, Brazil, the EU and the UK:
- Anadon, LD, Jones, A, Penasco, C et al. (2022) ‘Ten Principles for Policy Making in the Energy Transition’, Report of the Economics of Energy Innovation and System Transitions (EEIST) project, funded by UK BEIS (now DESNZ) and CIFF.
- On the importance of incorporating politics and people:
- Peng, W.; Iyer, G.; Bosetti, V.; Chaturvedi, V.; Edmonds, J.; Fawcett, A.; Hallegatte, S.; Victor, D.; van Vuuren, D.;Weyant, J.“Climate Policy Models need to Get Real about People–Here’s how”. Nature 2021, 594,174-176.
- On how to improve the relevance of energy models for policy making:
- Barbrook-Johnson, P, Mercure, J-F, Sharpe, S, Penasco, C, Hepburn, C, Anadon, LD, Farmer, JD, Lenton, T. Economic modelling fit for the demands of energy decision makers. Nature Energy (2024) DoI: 10.1038/s41560-024-01452-7
- A view on expanding Locational Marginal Pricing and research questions:
- A multimodal comparison of the expected impact of the US IRA on emissions :
Other interesting modeling aspects are covered in:
- On a review of how integrated assessment models cover(ed) renewables integration:
- On integrating uncertainty in energy system models:
- On evidence about the accuracy of different technology forecasting methods: