Written by Jane Spencer.

On 16th & 17th May 2017 the first cohort of Energy Research Accelerator (ERA) Doctoral Researchers came together for the first time to train, collaborate and socialise!

ERA is a collaboration between 6 Midlands Universities (Aston, Birmingham, Leicester, Loughborough, Nottingham and Warwick)  and the British Geological Survey (BGS). The purpose is to provide a training ground for a wide range of energy aware research leaders, looking at both energy generation and energy demand/usage.

Day one outlined what ERA is and how our collective mission is to develop an inter-disciplinary approach to answering research-focussed questions from relevant industries. Following this, our Doctoral Researchers received training on how to make an impact with presentations (our very own Duncan Stanley shared some fantastic tips!) and then we took a fascinating tour of some of Loughborough’s energy-related research facilities such as CREST and Civil Building Engineering’s test houses. It was certainly a jam-packed day; one that required a well-earned trip to Peter’s Pizza afterwards to help with our own personal energy demand/usage!!

Day two was also full of activity. It began with a lecture and tour at the British Geological Survey (BGS) in Keyworth, Nottingham. Of particularly interest at the BGS was the repository houses that contain 200km of cores, samples and cuttings, over 3 million biostratigraphical samples and the British Antarctic Survey’s rock and fossil collection!  Once back at Graduate House,  training from the previous day was put into action and our Doctoral Researchers took it in turns to deliver 3 minute talks on their research.

Overall, the first ERA 2-day event proved to be a real sucess; it generated considerable discussion that highlighted great opportunities for collaboration! We’re looking forward to the next get-together!