York, 4 July 2025 – Organised by the EU-funded CONNECTS-UK initiative, the event will discuss the mechanisms of climate change, debate strategies to mitigate its impact on ecosystems and communities, showcase innovations in renewable energy, and address issues of environmental justice — all critical for shaping a sustainable future.

CONNECTS-UK is a pan-European initiative fostering scientific collaboration between the EU and the UK, bringing together leading global experts for an interactive discussion on how to tackle today’s most pressing global challenges.

Through plenary sessions, panel discussions, a roundtable, and a poster competition, participants will explore four key questions:

1. How can we better prevent environmental degradation?
2. What role do individual and collective actions play in reducing carbon footprints?
3. How can scientific and research advancements contribute to more effective climate mitigation and adaptation strategies?
4. How do climate solutions reach communities, and do people trust the science driving policy and innovation?

Opening Remarks & Speakers
The forum will commence at 11 am with introductory remarks from Nathalie van Meurs, CONNECTS-UK and Dutch Network of Academics in the UK (DNA UK), Middlesex University. Emilien Gasc, counsellor for climate, environment and energy at the Delegation of the European Union to the United Kingdom will contribute remotely  highlighting the European Union’s commitment  in the field.

Featured Panels and Experts

Panel 1: Past and Present Challenges (11:15-12:15)

This panel will examine how different sectors and regions have addressed sustainability over time, from Jamaica’s shift to renewable energy and the evolution of sustainable farming practices to the ethical challenges facing the global fashion industry. Speakers will highlight the lessons learned and the urgent need to move beyond short-term solutions to build lasting climate resilience.

• Henrice Altink, Professor in Modern History, University of York. “Jamaica’s transition to renewable energy: a short history”
• Elisa Lopez Capel, Senior Lecturer, University of Newcastle, “Sustainable farming practices to mitigate climate change”
• Andrea Werner, Associate Professor of Business Ethics, Middlesex University, ‘Sustainability in the Global Fashion Industry: The need to move beyond novelty and growth’

Panel 2: Future actions and solutions (13:00-14:00)

This panel will showcase bold, game-changing solutions driving the transition to a low-carbon future. From revolutionising aviation with hydrogen fuel cells and accelerating the rollout of biorenewable technologies to pioneering energy-efficient building design, speakers will highlight breakthrough ideas and practical steps to turn climate ambition into action.

Nils Barner, University of Cambridge, “Decarbonising Aviation from the Bottom Up: The Promise of Hydrogen Fuel Cells”James Moir, Chair of the Biorenewables Centre, University of York, “Crossing the valley of death: implementing biorenewable technologies”Elisabetta Patané, Passivhaus Designer, Buro Happold Engineering, (London) and Lecturer, University of Reading, “Thermal adaptability, energy sufficiency and passive design”

Roundtable Discussion: Resolved Challenges and Interdisciplinary Potential (14:20-15:00)

As boundaries between disciplines become increasingly fluid, we have a unique opportunity to exchange methods, perspectives, and ideas. Let’s explore how cross-disciplinary connections have helped solve longstanding challenges – and how they might pave the way for innovation yet to come.

• Chair: Lindsay Stringer, Professor, University of York
• Elena Lopez-Gunn, Royal Elcano Institute, Founder and CEO of ICATALIST
• Benedict Morrison, Senior Lecturer, University of Exeter
• Madeline R. Young-Touré, University of Exeter/University of Amsterdam
• Haydn Osborne-Brooks, Young European Movement UK, Head. of Campaigns

The forum is co-sponsored by the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT), the Embassy of the Netherlands in the UK and Xunta de Galicia, with leadership from the Dutch Network of Academics in the UK (Dna in UK) and the collaboration of SRUK/CERU

For more details or to register, click here

For media inquiries, please contact:

Anna Fumarola

Project Manager CONNECTS-UK

project.manager@connects-uk.org

Further details on the CONNECTS-UK website and its social media  Twitter page, Linkedin, Facebook

About CONNECTS-UK:

CONNECTS-UK stands for ‘Connecting European Communities Through Science in the UK’ and is a pioneering pan-EU project co-funded by the European Union (EU) that aims to advance scientific collaborations between the EU and the United Kingdom (UK) in the post-Brexit context. The initiative brings together scientific diasporas from Finland, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, and Spain, and the non-profit organisation, Native Scientists, to foster cross-border research, promote knowledge exchange, and drive innovation. CONNECTS-UK serves as a catalyst for groundbreaking scientific collaborations and partnerships in diverse fields of study. The EU funding of around half a million euros not only reflects its commitment to advancing scientific progress but also underscores the importance of maintaining robust research ties between the EU and the UK despite the challenges posed by Brexit.

By creating a robust framework for cross-border collaboration, CONNECTS-UK will enable scientists, researchers, and innovators to overcome the barriers created by Brexit and tap into the vast wealth of expertise and resources available in both the EU and the UK to jointly tackle pressing global challenges.

CONNECTS-UK is a partnership, open to new collaborators, between

• Association of Italian Scientists in the UK (AISUK)
• Dutch Network of Academics in the UK (DNU inUK)
• Finnish Science Society in the UK
• French Education and Research Network UK (FERN-UK)
• Native Scientists
• Polonium Foundation
• Portuguese Association of Researchers and Students in the UK (PARSUK)
• Society of Spanish Researchers in the UK (SRUK/CERU)
• Association of Slovens Educated (VTIS)