Could climate change start a new golden age for UK engineering?
16 Apr 2012
Leicester, UK – The UK’s task of reducing emissions will contribute to a surge in engineering jobs through “green growth”, a leading academic will explain at a University of Leicester-hosted conference.
Professor Julia King, vice-chancellor of Aston University, will give the keynote lecture at the Engineering Professors’ Council’s annual congress at the university on 17 April.
Her lecture, Climate Change, Green Growth, Opportunities for Engineering and Manufacturing, will examine how the Government’s pledge to reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2050 will create new opportunities for engineering research and development.
Professor King, who advises the Government on education and technology issues and is a non-executive director of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, said: “Reducing emissions means replacing our current operations, infrastructure and manufactured goods with low carbon alternatives, stimulating research and development, providing opportunities for innovative companies to claim new markets and for the UK to rebalance its economy through ‘green growth’.
“Engineering UK, in its report on the state of engineering in 2012, predicts that over the next 10 or so years there will be a growth wave in engineering jobs - the UK will need over 2 million additional engineers.
“Are we on the threshold of a new golden age for British engineering? I believe that we hold the responsibility, and the means, to make this happen.”
