"Reimagining Energy": An Initiative to Understand and Reflect on the Climate Crisis

by Chema Arcos

This series of activities, part of the “Ciència Radical” (Radical Science) programme, has brought together leading experts to explore the key challenges and opportunities of the energy transition in the context of the climate crisis.

On 20 and 21 February, the CCCB (Barcelona) hosted the cycle of activities 'Reimagining Energy: New solutions to the climate crisis', a space for reflection and debate to analyse the major challenges of the energy transition. This event is part of the “Ciència Radical” (Radical Science) programme, a cultural project that brings together lectures, debates and audiovisual screenings with the aim of promoting interdisciplinary dialogue between fields as diverse as science, humanities, economy and art.

In particular, the 'Reimagining Energy' series offered a varied programme, including the following activities:

An audiovisual performance, Materia, by the artist Maotik, followed by a discussion with the physicist Lucía Aballe (ALBA Synchrotron). This session explored the links between seemingly distant disciplines such as materials science and art.
A round table, "Technology and economy for the energy transition", with the participation of Prof. Beatriz Roldán (Fritz Haber Institute in Berlin), an expert in materials science and member of the ICN2 Scientific Advisory Board, and Dr Mar Reguant, ICREA researcher at the CSIC Institute for Economic Analysis and former ICN2 LeaderSHE speaker. The session, moderated by the journalist Elisenda Pallarés, focused on analysing the scientific, technological and economic challenges of reducing the carbon footprint and moving towards more sustainable energy models. Both speakers offered a complementary view from their respective fields of research.
Additionally, the cycle will conclude on 6 June with the conference 'Energy: a global challenge', given by the renowned scientist and energy expert Vaclav Smil (University of Manitoba).

About Ciència Radical

Ciència Radical is an ambitious initiative that aims to combine science and technology with the arts and humanities. It is organised by the ALBA Synchrotron, IFAE, IBEC, ICFO, the Catalan government and the CCCB, with the collaboration of institutions such as ICN2. The project is part of a broader research strategy funded by the Complementary Plans of the Catalan government, the European Union and the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation.

Specifically, one of its key thematic blocks, "Reimagining Energy", is organised by the scientific project In-CAEM. Within this framework, ICN2, through ICREA Prof. Jordi Arbiol, oversees the scientific coordination, while ALBA Synchrotron manages both the administrative coordination (Dr Caterina Biscari) and the project management (Dr Lucía Aballe).