By Nelly Sander, AAU Communication and Public Affairs

Energy was paramount in more ways than one when a considerable number of AAU researchers gathered in AAU Innovate for the energy mission’s first workshop of the year.

In addition to a number of inspiring presentations, great minds came together across disciplines, departments and research groups in breakout sessions where participants had signed up for two out of five possible topics defined from a series of inspiring department visits – and of course based on the mission's three sub-goals (see fact box).

Co-creation of new mission projects

The approximately 80 attendees exchanged knowledge in groups in rooms that exuded both energy and creativity. The working method was co-creation, and participants had to discuss and provide suggestions for a roadmap starting in 2024 and ending in 2045, focusing on the changes taking place in Denmark towards 2045 when we must reach the mission’s goal.

The introduction to the roadmap templates was worded as follows, encouraging participants to contribute with their respective scientific areas:

2045: Imagine this scenario. Denmark is 100 percent CO2 neutral and our energy system is more circular than ever before. The resilient, citizen-involved system design has eliminated the need for foreign imports of energy. Local planning has increased the efficiency of our energy infrastructure, and as a society, we have taken the necessary steps to ensure a resilient, self-sufficient, and environmentally friendly energy system.

Many interesting and important inputs

Professor Jakob Stoustrup, Mission Manager is more than satisfied with how the workshop went and the resulting ten completed roadmaps.

"It was a fantastic experience to feel the positive atmosphere and willingness to make a difference. Now come the next steps where the mission management will dive into the resulting material and prepare more specific headings to be worked on further," says Jakob Stoustrup.

Once the headings are in place, the Mission Secretariat will convene new workshops in the autumn where the work will naturally become even more focused. The goal is to work towards a number of specific mission projects that can get general advice as well as more specific advice on funding. Everyone is welcome to contribute and join.

Join us

It is important for Jakob Stoustrup to emphasize that this is not a private party.

"This is still open to more researchers, both in terms of ideas in continuation of the first workshop as well as completely new ideas. Just get in touch with me or the mission secretariat," he says.

What did you get out of the workshop?

Lill: I learned a lot about the research interests of other AAU colleagues and discussed a little more broadly about citizen engagement. It was exciting and challenging. And of course, I learned a little more about the energy mission’s ambitions.

Jacob: In short, I discovered very good energy in the room by meeting people I don't normally encounter – that is, seeing the other disciplines and having these aha experiences. Where you sort of figure out that, well, you can also think about the issue like this – that it will not only be from my perspective, which is organization, strategy and management, but also the TECH part, the legislative part, etc. It's complex. And then it’s good that there are many of us to shed light on the complexity. It makes for good energy, and there was a good atmosphere.

John: That we have many different perspectives and I think that getting them all to come together –where sometimes we’re saying the same thing, but phrasing it differently – this takes some time. So I also think another time to lay out these roadmaps, we need more time for that because we need to find milestones that are expressed differently to suit the different disciplines.

Can you see yourself in an energy mission project?

Lill: I’ve been involved in doing the preparatory work for the energy mission, and in Green Societies part of our work is to cooperate with the energy mission, so I have to answer yes to that. We’ve just started, and there are many things that I think could be different if we want to include more SSH in the energy mission. I hope that we can continue the talks on this.

Jacob: Yes, one hundred percent. I came over here voluntarily, and I was looking forward to coming here, so, yes, you can say that.

John: Yes, definitely. I think that the sector coupling area is really important and interesting.