Gender and Energy Research

Wednesday 9 August 2023

Symposium linked to Joy Clancy's Farewell Address as Professor of Energy and Gender

7 & 8 December 2023, University of Twente, NL

Context

Since the workshop ‘Engendering the Energy Transition’ in 2016, there has been a significant increase in research output related to gender and energy from the Global South and the Global North. Researchers are also moving beyond treating ‘gender’ as a binary and increasingly taking an intersectional approach. This seems a good moment to review what we know so far, particularly to point to key successes and examples of good practice that have led to gender and social equality, as well as to try to identify gaps in knowledge and emerging themes for future research. We propose to explore how we can decolonise energy transitions research by learning from the emerging energy epistemologies in the global South.

The transition to a low carbon society is a complex socio-technical problem involving multiple social actors with multiple perspectives and decision making paths which in turn are dependent on situation and context. No single discipline working alone can provide the answers to such a complex problem. Instead, a trans-disciplinary approach, together with critical knowledge frames, would provide a more holistic understanding of and identification of solutions to a more socially just energy transition. This symposium provides an opportunity to identify novel methodological approaches and under-utilised disciplines to contribute to that understanding and help guide us to socially just solutions.

Objectives

To identify key findings from engendering the energy transition to guide policy and practice
To identify emerging issues
To promote interdisciplinary research

Questions to be addressed during the symposium

What lessons have we learnt so far from efforts to engender the energy transition from the Global South and the Global North?
What are the stand-out successes and examples of good practice in engendering the energy transition?
What is the evidence that involvement of women and other less represented groups in the energy value chain has contributed to their empowerment?
How can energy policies be formulated to help achieve gender goals and increase social inclusion?

Format

The Symposium will have a hybrid format. We aim to make the symposium interactive to stimulate discussion, exchange ideas and support each other by providing constructive feedback. Papers for presentation during the Symposium will be selected on the basis of an accepted abstract.

Output

We are discussing with the editors of a high ranking journal the possibility for a special issue.

We have also been approached to produce a handbook on gender and energy for publication in late 2024. All abstracts will be considered for inclusion in the handbook.