BU Research Blog

BU academics shared their ideas and research on low carbon initiatives with policymakers

BU Academics Dr Zulfiqar Khan and Prof Mark Hadfield (DEC), Sukanya Ayatakshi (BS) and Elena Cantarello (ApSci) exhibited at the govtoday Carbon Reduction 2012 event on 27 November 2012 at the Brewery Conference Centre in London .  MSc in Green Economy, IMechE Further Learning Programme, BU research themes, UG/PG courses, resources and expertise were showcased and promoted during the event. Attendees included representatives from relevant government departments, agencies and other public sector organisations.

Dr Elena Cantarello, Dr Zulfiqar Khan  and Sukanya Ayatakshi also delivered a Learning and Implementation Master Class on “How can we support development of the green economy?” which attracted the most audience. Julia Hasting-Taylor said “I just got a call from one of the conference organisers who said that you had the largest Masterclass attendance (94 out of 260 – so a third came to see y’all) and he’s already hearing great things about your session”.

Dr Elena Cantarello, teaching Carbon management and Green Technologies for the MSc in Green Economy, provided an overview of the principles of the green economy and how these may be implemented in practice to support green economic development. Elena was representing Prof. Adrian Newton, who is responsible for coordinating the world’s first MSc on the Green Economy.

Elena said: ‘we are aiming to equip people with the right skills to develop the Green Economy. This is something we strongly believe in and feel passionate about’.

Dr Zulfiqar Khan, whose current research on the potential of harnessing tidal power in Poole Harbour as a renewable energy source, said: “We want to try and get the message across that we are very much part of the green agenda in terms of renewable energy and renewable technology. Bournemouth University is a strong player in the game and we want to showcase the projects we have, and our expertise and facilities”.

He presented an overview of the engineering and technological solutions for renewable energy and renewable technology needs using case studies of student led community interest projects.

Sukanya Ayatakshi, lecturer in entrepreneurship at the business school, presented her PhD research on Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and environmental taxation. The study looked at the impact of such taxes on the SMEs in the UK with an intention to “generate better understanding of how to engage SMEs in the wider discussion of the climate change problem”.

Sukanya said “most government policies especially environmental ones are designed for larger businesses and then imposed on the smaller ones without taking into consideration their unique circumstances. SMEs are present in all sectors that are liable to environmental taxation. If environmental taxation as a policy instrument wishes to achieve its behaviour changing objective then the first step needs to be effective communication along with practical help and support. Without such support SMEs tend to be distrustful and cynical about any such ‘environment’ related policies especially in these dire economic times”.