SMART Climate Action: Inclusive Youth Engagement and Sensing & 5G Technology for Net Zero

A hands-on, interactive experience to explore cutting-edge sensors & 5G technologies that contribute to cutting carbon emission & Net Zero

Tuesday 9 November, 10:00 - 16:00, Hunter Halls, University of Glasgow

Register via Eventbrite

About the event

SMART Climate Action is a public engagement event, which offers an exciting opportunity for children and young people and the public to have a hands-on, interactive experience to explore cutting-edge sensors and 5G technologies that contribute to cutting carbon emissions and adaptations to climate change, during the COP 26 in Glasgow in Nov 2021.

You will be guided to reflect on the role of technology, youth participation, digital inclusion/exclusion, and Scotland’s place in the global response and resilience to the climate emergency through an interactive installation.

As attendees, you will engage with themes of climate action, inclusive transition to Net Zero, and energy use through interaction and engagement with state-of-the-art sensing and 5G technologies developed in Scotland and at the University of Glasgow. 

What will I get to do? 

The installation involves:

1. A demonstration of a Persuasive Energy Conscious Network (PECN) – allowing you to evaluate the feasibility of using sensing technologies, supported by 5G, to influence user behaviour and shift patterns of energy consumption.

2. Streaming interactive digital content: pre-recorded messages by young people, policymakers/industry, and real-world applications of sensing and 5G technologies from research, and live feedback of attendees’ self-reflection.

3. Social media engagement: in the lead-up to COP26 & throughout FoSS, to engage young people in dialogues with local, regional, national, and international stakeholders on adapting to impacts of climate change and the role technology plays.

By attending this exhibition, you will benefit from a greater awareness of the opportunities afforded by technology and reflect on challenges of Net Zero in energy strategies, digital exclusion, and reducing reliance on fossil fuel generators in rural/high-poverty areas and so-called Global South.

The event is led by a cross-disciplinary team at the University of Glasgow: Dr Mark Wong [Urban Studies], Dr Claire Bynner [Education], Professor Catherine Lido and Dr Justine Gangneux [Urban Big Data Centre], Professor Muhammad Imran and Professor Jonathan Cooper [Science & Engineering/Communications Sensing and Imaging (CSI) research group and Scotland 5G Centre], Ms Lucille Tetley-Brown [Sociology], and supported by Mr. David Canning [COP26 Intern, School of Social & Political Science].

This event is also part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science 2021 and was made possible thanks to funding from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), which is part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).