7th edition of Environmental Protection and Energy Conference

The EPAE Conference is organised only and exclusively by students of Energy Transition course at Silesian University of Technology as a part of learning by doing project approach conducted by Magdalena Bogacka and Krzysztof Pikoń. This approach is promoted by InnoEnergy Master’s School, which is also a sponsor of the Conference. The group of students was divided into smaller teams, in which everyone had assigned specific tasks to contribute to the Conference success. On the top there was a Project Manager - Wojciech Szwajnoch, who directed the project using an AgilePM methodology that students previously acquired during the accredited course. Thanks to this and the diligent work for more than 2 months the Conference ended as such a great success.

Among 265 participants there were people from more than 40 nationalities, 22 universities from all around the world and representatives from 12 companies. Over 90 presentations were divided into 3 parallel sessions in 7 rooms and were provided both in Polish and English language. Some of the sessions were started with presentations delivered by invited speakers from industry and government. The panel of experts, being proclaimed as the most interesting element during the Conference, which also had the highest attendance at the event, consisted of 6 professionals from different institutions who work on a daily basis in major market companies, research centres and universities in Europe. It brought very interesting discussion, which in many of us shaped a new view on the Energy Transition that is already in progress. At the closing ceremony the prizes for best presentation from each of 18 sessions chosen by the participants via specially made application were given together with certificates of recognition for all partners present at the Conference.

Finally, two of the most crucial aspects of this conference are worth mentioning. First of all, the participation was completely free of charge, which is its undeniable advantage. In addition, the requirement to take an active part in the Conference was the need to give a presentation and prepare a scientific article. All articles will be collected in a monograph, which at the end of February will be published in two languages and distributed for free to all presenters and online in Open Access formula.

The Conference partners were: Rafako, PKP Cargo, EBIS, ArcelorMittal Poland, SUEZ, PIPC, Rector of the Silesian University of Technology and Major of Gliwice.

by Rafal Fingas, Master's in Energy Transition student