Multiple Lives of Subsurface in Decarbonization

The global imperative for decarbonization and energy transition is increasingly framed as a shift towards global land scramble, given the spatially extensive nature of renewables and the divergent land-use patterns these technologies impose. Urgency and intensity of the transformation in the energy sector also has significant implications for the socio-material reconfiguration of subsurface spaces given that the power relations and institutional structures that manage these subterranean spaces are constantly shifting. This summer school, organized in collaboration with HARNESS Project, will dive into the politics of sub/surface spaces in the energy transition with attention to spatialities, materialities and temporalities of subterranean renewable energy (ie. Geothermal), carbon-capture & storage (CCS), and hydrogen storage technologies. We will bring together expertise from political ecology, science and technology studies (STS), spatial sciences and critical geography, anthropology to dive into the key concepts and theories on the politics of the subterranean in energy transition. The summer school, while featuring cutting-edge scholarly debates on the topic, will also involve practitioners and energy justice activists to reflect on their real-life challenges.

The key objectives of this summer school is to:

Initiate an international research cooperation on the role of subterranean spaces in energy transition with a focus on geothermal energy and CCS (carbon capture and storage)
Creating opportunities for graduate students with a special emphasis on the global South
Bring together researchers, practitioners and activists
Innovate and experiment with educational formats

Course leader

Dr. Ethemcan Turhan

Target group

Participants should hold at least a master degree (or be close to finishing this degree) and show affinity to or interest in engaging with energy transition and subterranean spaces.

It is expected that the participants have a sufficient command of the English language to actively participate in the discussions and to present their own work in English.

Course aim

The key objectives of this summer school is to:

- Initiate an international research cooperation on the role of subterranean spaces in energy transition with a focus on geothermal energy and CCS (carbon capture and storage)
- Creating opportunities for graduate students with a special emphasis on the global South
- Bring together researchers, practitioners and activists
- Innovate and experiment with educational formats

Fee info

EUR 450: for practitioners
EUR 200: for UG students and ENLIGHT consortium

Scholarships

There are 5 (full or partial) grants available for researchers from the global South to cover for tuition, travel and/or accommodation expenses. Please mention in your motivation letter if and why you request a travel grant.