Multi-Disciplinary Perspectives on Energy and Sustainable Development

Dear Colleagues, The relationship between energy, the environment and sustainable development is a complex one that is not only context specific in terms of geographical location it is also dynamic in terms of changes over time. This complexity can force us back into disciplinary specialisms, or silos, within which excellent work can be carried out but this may not readily translate into practice. Innovations in solar energy technology may well generate electricity efficiently but might only be acceptable to some communities if cultural constraints relating to power and gender relations are addressed. This simple example highlights both the need for technical innovation but also for advances in our understanding of how that technology might align with these different contexts. This special issue on energy, environment and sustainable development will present a spectrum of studies undertaken by the Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development with national, international and practitioner partners. These will range from those relating to technical innovation (e.g. electrochromic glazing, nano-technology and photo-voltaic film) to work that is predominantly cultural and behavioural in its focus (e.g. energy use and demand management within social housing). Running through the issue however will be the recognition that to be useful, in terms of enhanced sustainability, energy related research must align with the contexts into which it is to be applied and as such the research needs to be able to reflect the complexity of those contexts. In consequence, technical studies need to access qualitative insight, and an understanding of cultural context alone cannot generate appropriate energy technologies. The underlying narrative of the special issue will be the need to address, in a systematic manner, issues of multi-disciplinarity and trans-disciplinarity as they relate to the generation and use of energy and to do so in such a way that does not compromise disciplinary excellence. Professor Mark Lemon,Dr Andy Wright Guest Editors

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