The summer school took place in Asker, just outside Oslo, with an overarching focus on sustainable transport with lectures covering topics such as hydrogen, sustainable batteries, maritime freight, heavy duty vehicles and geopolitical questions related to the green shift.
The PhD-students were all from Nordic universities (UiO, NTNU, Arctic University of Norway, Nord University and Chalmers) and from a wide range of disciplines. The program, designed to be both interdisciplinary and interactive, offered a mixture of expert talks, lectures and group work focusing on various aspects of sustainable transport. Midweek the students went on an excursion, including a visit to the public transport operators Unibuss and the Nesodden ferry – the former including an introduction into the electrification of the company’s bus fleet and the experiences relating to that transition.
The students worked on projects throughout the week and presented their findings on the last day of the summer school. According to Vebj?rn Bakken, the director of UiO:Energy, the week-long summer school is a fine way of introducing the students to perspectives from various disciplines and sectors.
– A key idea behind the NorRen Summer School, is to expose the PhDs to perspectives from various disciplines and sectors. This goes for the lectures, but also the interdisciplinary group work throughout the intensive week. We also want the participants to see how their own research fits in as a part of the larger picture, and how they can contribute to the ongoing transition, he says.
Encouraged and engaged students
PhD-student Maria de Oliveira Loureiro from The Department of Space, Earth and Environment at Chalmers University was one of the participants. She found the summer school to be both a humbling and encouraging experience.
– NorRen made me humble about the complexity of transport systems, which, as a rebound effect results in major challenges when assessing its decarbonization. Still, during this week, despite becoming even more aware of how demanding is to be a researcher on sustainable transportation, I was fortunate enough to establish a network of fellow collaborators with whom I believe that, together, with our numerous and diversified approaches and hypothesis, will be able to successfully contribute with knowledge for future non-fossil fuel transport. This will have an important role in the sustainable transformation of the world, and that is exactly what I would like to be part of and contribute to with my research to, she says.
Jonas Martin, also one of participating PhD-students, added that he was impressed by the lecturer’s ability to inspire and foster interesting discussions.
– Amazing program in a productive and private atmosphere. Inspiring mixed group, well-chosen lecturers and subjects, and a great hotel by the fjord to keep up the energy over a full week of interaction. Perfect place to reflect on your research and to get input from different disciplines and people all over the world. It is a challenge to find lecturers who are able to inspire the audience over a full week! Indeed, this was possible in the summer school! From nearly every presentation I could gain many new information and interesting opinions. Due to the active group, also controversial statements were discussed from different perspectives, he says.