Editor’s choice
Editor’s choice
How can we strengthen Europe’s energy security while enhancing biodiversity in and around the North Sea? This was the question explored by the the first event hosted by the North Sea University Partnership. Experts from academia, government, and industry highlighted the North Sea’s central role in Europe’s green transition and long-term energy resilience, with contributions from European Commission officials, leading scholars, industry figures, and the ambassadors of Norway and the UK.
Luke Gooding spoke in the North Sea Conservation and Heritage session on retrofit strategies viewed through two lenses: York’s Retrofit One Stop Shop (ROSSY) and the Ecological Citizen(s) (EC) project.
From the ROSSY perspective, he demonstrated how trusted advisers, local supply chains, equity-focused metrics, and place-based engagement can turn policy into effective, inclusive practice. He outlined how sequencing, after-care, and local legitimacy help ensure retrofit reaches those who need it most and can convert initial interest into completed projects.
Balancing this, he introduced small projects funded through the Ecological Citizen(s) Network+, which explore retrofit as a civic and ecological design practice that builds capacities for learning, making and stewardship.
Together, ROSSY and EC offer complementary insights into delivering retrofit fairly, effectively, and as a participatory, ecological practice that strengthens citizenship and connection to place.
08:30–09:00: Registration and coffee
09:00–09:45: Welcome and intro to NSUP collaboration
09:45–10:00: Keynote speech
10:00–10:30: Panel: North Sea research and innovation – a strategic crossroads for energy, sustainability, culture, and security
Chair: Øystein Lund, Counsellor for Research and Education, Royal Norwegian Embassy in London
10:30–11:00: Live demonstration of FluidFlower
11:00–11:30: Break
11:30–12:30: Resilience for a net zero North Sea
Chairs: Richard Dawson (Newcastle University) & Hossein Farahmand (NTNU)
12:30–13:30: Lunch
13:30–14:30: North Sea conservation and heritage
Chairs: Simone Abram (Durham University) & Vebjørn Bakken (University of Oslo)
14:30–14:45: Break
14:45–15:45: Transitioning the North Sea – from oil and gas basin to a low-carbon multi-use hub
Chairs: Kristine Spildo (University of Bergen) & James van Alstine (University of Leeds)
15:45–16:15: Reflections and thank you
17:00–19:00: Reception at the UK ambassador’s official residence, 17 rue Ducale
Welcome: Caroline Read, Deputy Ambassador, UK Mission to the EU
Remarks:
09:00–12:00: Workshop: Research collaboration
Focus on funding opportunities and development of post-workshop plans.
Expert overview of funding opportunities (DG RTD):
Facilitator:
Project / SEI at the University of York is collaborating with the City of York to develop a retrofit one-stop shop to help the city achieve its net zero goals.
Project / The Ecological Citizen(s) project cultivates trans-disciplinary collaboration and research to enable a digital sustainable society for positive climate action.
Past event / Join SEI and Luke Gooding to explore inclusive governance in UK community energy during a live Q&A on 6 August.
Perspective / On World Ventilate Day 2024, SEI researcher Luke Gooding emphasizes the importance of ventilation during retrofitting to meet net-zero goals.
Journal article / By empowering communities and adopting participatory approaches, citizen science projects generate essential knowledge that informs decision-making processes.
