EPS-SIF International School proves an “energetic” event
The first course of the Joint EPS-SIF International School on Energy – on “New strategies for energy generation, conversion and storage” – was held between 30 July and 4 August this year in Varenna, Italy. The school was attended by 70 participants – both lecturers, observers and students – from 18 different home countries.
The week-long course offered basic, detailed lectures on energy and related technologies, complemented by topical seminars on the most to-date developments in such topics as:
- Energy and communication;
- Energy for future transportation;
- Energy from bio-sources;
- Energy storage, saving and efficiency;
- Energy, CO2 emissions, environment and global scenario;
- Nuclear energy, fission and fusion physics;
- Renewable energy;
- Solar energy and photovoltaics;
- Wind generated energy.
The format – a wide spectrum, multidisciplinary school, covering all fields, with relevance to the technologies of energy production, conversion, transmission and saving – was ideal in bringing together scientists from various energy-related disciplines, and served as a lively forum for discussion. The majority of the case studies reported in the lectures and seminars identified areas where more research is necessary. This was outlined in the final summary of the school.
The beautiful venue of the Villa Monastero, in Varenna – and the gorgeous summer weather – nicely contributed to the success of the event.
The next course of the school will be held, at the same venue, in 2014. Before this, the school’s “Lecture Notes on Energy” will be published, with the goal to produce a volume to serve as a reference textbook for future such courses and beyond.
