Over 50 school and college students attended the first Sustainable Futures Conference held by the Department of Engineering at the University of Huddersfield, leaving attendees inspired with possibilities for solving climate change issues.

The conference brought together a range of academics, who delivered a day filled with insightful discussions and hands-on experiences.

The keynote address was delivered by Prof John Allport – the director of the Energy Integration Laboratory, Associate Group Leader – Energy, Emissions and the Environment Research Group and the Climate Commissioner for Kirklees – and explored topics ranging from the CO2 problem, the waste problem and fuel and energy issues. Attendees gained valuable insights into the current state and future direction of sustainability.

Participants had the opportunity to get hands-on in workshops, covering topics such as sustainable structures, energy harvesting and green fuel and green energy. These workshops demonstrated to the attendees how to apply sustainable concepts in real-world scenarios.

The success of the Sustainable Futures Conference highlights the growing significance of the climate crisis and the long-term effects for future generations.

The conference concluded with a panel discussion hosted by Dr Leigh Fleming Head of Engineering and included Prof Nigel Schofield, Prof Marco Corradi, Prof Rakesh Mishra, Prof Paul Allen, Prof John Allport and Gina Javanbakht, a Research Fellow – Clean Energy & Technologies.

The university offers a range of engineering courses at undergraduate and postgraduate levels informed by world-leading research in the field.

There are courses in Automotive and Motorsport Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electronic and Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering.