This SPOC event will look at what’s beyond solar, wind and hydrogen: when mitigation alone isn’t enough – where do we go from here?

Presentation by Professor Averil MacDonald

We were promised that moving to green energy would get us to net zero and then everything will be fine, but it turns out things are not quite so simple … We are already realising that wind and solar aren’t enough and energy saving can only go so far. Professor Averil Macdonald will look forward to the next 20 years and describe the new technologies that are coming down the road.
But, despite all the new technology, the modest-sounding 2°C average global temperature rise forecast will have serious consequences for the way we all live our lives day to day. We learnt at the recent LCAG Conference that we will need to adapt to the changing climate – everything from modifying our houses, to transport, to the urban environment and even food supply chains. This talk ends with a salutary reminder of what we will need to do to make life liveable at this latitude, Join us on Zoom, if only to find out why a clean bucket might be the most important thing to keep in your home.

Book here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/lcag/2125790

Professor Averil Macdonald OBE DSc D.Univ HonFInstP FRSA

Averil Macdonald is Emeritus Professor at the University of Reading, was formerly Professor of Inclusion and Equality at University of Birmingham and has now joined the £11M Cornerstone project at Southampton University as EDI Lead.

Averil was awarded the international Bragg Medal and Prize (1999) by the Institute of Physics, London, the accolade of Woman of Outstanding Achievement in Science (2007) in recognition of her work in Science Communication, the prestigious Plastics Industry Award for Personal Contribution to the Industry (2007), Honorary Doctorates by the University of York (2010) and Kingston University (2015) and an OBE in the Birthday Honours list 2015 for services to women in science. In 2025 she was elected Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Physics in recognition of lifetime achievement encouraging diversity in Physics.

From 2019-2021 Averil was Master of the Worshipful Company of Fuellers in the City of London working alongside HRH Prince Edward the Earl of Wessex as Royal Master. Throughout her time as she championed future energy solutions to decarbonise the UK, with a particular emphasis on using hydrogen. Averil was Chair of the Board of UKOOG, the professional association for UK Onshore Oil and Gas industry, advocating decarbonising natural gas to generate blue hydrogen.

Averil’s other focus is supporting underrepresented groups in STEM careers. She was a member of the Women’s Business Council, advising the UK Government, sat on the board of Directors of WISE, (the Campaign for Women in Science and Engineering), and has served as a Trustee of the Science Museum Group, a Director of the Cheltenham Festivals and sat on the Court of Imperial College.