Events

The first international Project Sunshine conference, Shine, supported by BBSRC

Venue: Sheffield City Hall, Sheffield

Harnessing the power of the sun to meet the increasing food and energy needs of the world's population.

The problem

The world is in crisis: there is not enough energy or food and their costs are rising; there is environmental destruction and loss of biodiversity at an accelerating rate; and increasing evidence of potentially catastrophic climate change.

The cause

Prior to the industrial revolution, limits on population and human activity were set by the sun, and by the productivity of the land. Our use of fossil fuel is not only causing an increase in atmospheric CO2 concentration but creates a historical anomaly: unsustainable growth in demand for energy and food; unsustainable drain on the earth's finite natural resources; unsustainable environmental degradation.

The solution

Re-making the link between the sun and human activity will again establish sustainable world ecosystems. This will involve the development and deployment of new technologies and systems that use the sun's energy more efficiently and more extensively to increase food production and provide renewable energy at the same time reducing carbon emissions, decreasing environmental degradation and stabilising atmospheric CO2 levels.

A new kind of science conference

The global issues of food, energy and environmental change are complex and inter-connected. Integrated, flexible solutions, appropriate for different scenarios in different parts of the world, are needed. Solutions will involve individuals and organisations from across many areas of academia, business and the public sector: founded upon high quality science, interpreted by business and policy makers, translated into actions which make a difference.

· Cutting edge science from world-leading scientists and technologists

· The business and policy angle from major influencers across the world

· Brokering relationships which will move things forward