Involving students a major goal of ongoing library energy research exhibition
On 23 February, KTH Energy Platform and the KTH Library held a vernissage of the exhibition “Towards the energy of the future - the invisible revolution behind the electrical socket”. An inaugural popular science lunch seminar on materials for clean energy preceded the vernissage. All researchers and students are welcome to the exhibition, which runs until 30 March.
“Communicating energy research is becoming a democratic duty, and involving students is a big first step in that direction,” says one of the organisers, Professor Christope Duwig.
The energy research exhibition, displayed at the KTH Campus library, is based on the KTH Energy Platform's popular science anthology from 2022 with the same name, written by some of Sweden's leading energy researchers in collaboration with Vetenskap & Allmänhet (Public & Science) .
With the exhibition, the platform aims to raise awareness of the important energy issue and the knowledge gathered in the anthology. It displays showcase illustrations from the book made by Lotta Waesterberg Tomasson, as well as books related to energy and electricity from the KTH Library's collections, selected by librarians Emil Öhlén and Viveka Norström Hallberg .
“Today, we know the world's energy system must be fundamentally transformed. It is a precondition for us to slow down climate change and create a sustainable society. And we all have important roles to play in the transformation. But how do we change something that we can't see? And how can ‘we’ include all people?” says Christophe Duwig , Deputy Director of KTH Energy Platform and coordinator of the anthology book.
According to Christophe Duwig the first answer would be to reach the target groups where they are.
“If we think of our students as the future experts, technical leaders, and enablers of this transition, it is natural to come where they are: at the KTH Library. This is our first event in collaboration with the library and it was an inspiring journey! The library is a vital part of the campus and a great meeting place – where best to make an impact?” he says.
The KTH Library led the project
The project was led by the KTH Librarian Lenita Brodin Berggren , who built the exhibition together with her colleagues Tove Ohlström and Mikko Bromark .
“The KTH Library aims to be a place where research within KTH shall be communicated and visualised in an inspiring way to create places where students, employees and researchers can meet and discuss important issues. Professor Christophe Duwig took the initiative to the collaboration, and for us this was an optimal way to fulfil the goal of finding new ways to communicate research and reach a broader audience,” Lenita Brodin Berggren says.
As part of the exhibition, students from KTH's Electrical Engineering program also showcase exciting projects that connect to the anthology’s contents, made with materials and equipment from the student-driven ELAB and “Studentverkstan”. Visitors are also invited to share their reflections and ideas on energy.
A series of popular science lunch seminars is held in parallel with the exhibition. Professor Kerstin Forsberg held the first presentation as an introduction to the vernissage with the appealing title Will my phone be made of scrap? It was partly based on the anthology chapter she wrote with Professor Christopher Hulme-Smith.
She presented the critical metals needed for clean energy and electrification of society. Kerstin Forsberg also stressed the challenges ahead and the need for mining and recycling metals.
“I enjoyed discussing the topic with the mixed audience at the library. I am also very happy to visit the exhibition as it is perfectly located by the library entrance. Hopefully, it can inspire people and make them aware of how they could contribute to the energy transformation,” Kerstin Forsberg says.
Text: Christophe Duwig