I was invited to be the Conference Artist-In-Resident for the Data Science and AI for Sustainability conference 2022, hosted by the Interdisciplinary Research Centre for Energy and C2D3. This conference aimed to bring together academics, industrialists and policymakers to share their research, identify new opportunities and discuss areas where further collaborative work is required to decarbonise the energy sector. 

Throughout the conference, I listened to the panel discussions and talked with speakers and delegates during the breaks. I saw it as a proactive RETHINKING of our energy future, identifying problems and proposing ideas and solutions through innovation, informed by research, experiences and knowledge of their sectors. My ‘take away’ is that it is complicated by the human, cultural and economic interrelated factors and the need for a people-centric approach informed by location and situation is key. AI can play a strong role but there remains a conflict with data privacy.

For more details about the interdisciplinary research centres and the coordinators visit C2D3: www.c2d3.cam.ac.uk and Energy IRC: www.energy.cam.ac.uk