EEC'18 Energy and Environment Conference

Agenda of the EEC'18 Energy and Environment Conference

9:00 - 9:30
Registration and Welcome Coffee

9:30 – 10:00
Opening ceremony (Amphitheatre G. Charpak)

10:00 – 11:15
♦ Innovation Policies for the Future of the Planet: Energy, Growth and Employment by Pr. Charles Wessner, Professor of Global Innovation Policy at Georgetown University (USA)

11:15 – 12:30
♦ Women in Science by Dr. Natalia Caldes (CIEMAT, Spain)

♦ Innovation Policies for the Future of the Planet: Energy, Growth and Employment by Pr. Charles Wessner, Professor of Global Innovation Policy at Georgetown University (USA)

What are the policies and programs that underpin US success in innovation? How do attitudes, risks, funding and opportunities combine to encourage US innovation? What are other countries doing? And how can we innovate faster and better to address the challenges of global warming and climate change while generating jobs and growth in our countries and communities? These and other topics will be taken up in an entertaining fashion by a globally recognized authority on effective innovation policies.

Biography
Recently named an Officer of the Order of Merit by the President of France, Dr. Charles Wessner teaches Global Innovation Policy at Georgetown University and is a powerful advocate of effective innovation policies. Recognized internationally for his expertise on innovation policy, he previously advised the National Technology agencies of Finland (TEKES) and of Sweden (VINNOVA) and recently the governments of Canada, Australia, and Hong Kong. Before joining Georgetown University, he served for two decades as a National Academies Scholar where he founded and directed the National Academy of Sciences Program on Technology, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship. Dr. Wessner also serves as a Peer Advisor in the OECD Development Centre’s advisory work with Shenzhen, China and is leading a multi-year study of the development of the New York Nano-cluster.

♦ Women in Science by Dr. Natalia Caldes (CIEMAT, Spain)

The purpose of this motivation speech/presentation is to briefly present and highlight the achievements and challenges faced by various scientist women throughout the history (among others, Hipatia, Marie Curie and Rosalind Franklind). Next, the presenter will talk about her personal experience as a social scientist working in the field of sustainable development and, based on her own experience, will share with the audience some personal recommendations (like how to frame a research project and stay motivated, some tips on how to write successful international research proposals, etc). Finally, the presenter will listen and try to answer any comment/question from the audience.

Biography
Dr. Natalia Caldés is a senior researcher at the Energy Systems Analysis Unit of CIEMAT. Her research focuses on energy and climate change policy studies and sustainability assessment of energy technologies. Besides other research activities, she is currently coordinating the H2020 project MUSTEC (Market Uptake of STE through Cooperation) aimed at exploring and proposing concrete solutions to overcome the various factors that hinder the deployment of Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) projects in Southern Europe capable of supplying renewable electricity on demand to Central and Northern European Countries. Besides her everyday research activities at CIEMAT, she also lectures in some graduate programs and acts as PhD advisor for young researchers. Furthermore, since 2005 she also volunteers in an NGO named Energía Sin Fronteras (ESF), a foundation that supports rural electrification and water projects in less developed countries (http://www.energiasinfronteras.org/) where she is member of the board of directors. Before joining CIEMAT in 2004, she worked in the field of development economics for various United Nations Agencies as well as for the International Food Policy Research Institute in Washington DC (www.ifpri.org). Among other tasks, she was involved in the impact evaluation of various poverty reduction programs in Latin America and Africa. Prior to that, she also worked as a trade analyst for the Spanish Commercial Office in Sydney, Australia.