This academic year has marked an exciting period of growth for the ZERO Institute’s Early Career Researcher (ECR) Network, as we expanded our community, deepened partnerships, and supported researchers tackling critical energy transition challenges. With over 250 members engaged through our outreach and 150+ attendees across our events, the network continues to thrive as a dynamic platform for emerging scholars across disciplines.
Expanding Outreach and National Links
This year saw the launch of our LinkedIn group to connect ECRs across the UK. We continued expanding our collaboration with the Glasgow Centre for Sustainable Energy’s ECR network and opened discussions with the Energy Institute’s Young Energy Professionals Network—important steps in fostering inter-institutional and intergenerational dialogue.
Energy Nexus Series and Key Events
Our flagship Energy Nexus Series brought the community together around timely, interdisciplinary themes. Highlights from Michaelmas Term included a welcome reception with the ZERO Institute Leadership Team, an industry engagement visit to Harwell Campus and the ISIS Neutron & Muon Source, and a community energy roundtable with Glasgow-based ECRs.
In Hilary Term, we co-hosted Energy and Climate Conversations with the Oxford India Centre for Sustainable Development and welcomed participants to a seminar on the UK’s evolving policy landscape: On Track for Net Zero? These events created new avenues for research exchange and collaboration.
Seed Fund Launch
We have furthered our commitment to advance ECR skills and access through hosting a workshop on grant applications writing and have piloted a Seed Fund, which allows ECRs to build industry collaborations to advance their research goals.
Representation and Impact
ZERO ECRs were proudly represented at major events including the Harwell HEAT Conference, Worcester College Energy Day, and Access to Finance forums, growing our presence helped and securing new collaboration opportunities.
Looking to Trinity Term, we’re preparing for a DPhil writing retreat, nuclear fusion and battery tech site visits, and a seminar on blue finance for net zero transitions. These initiatives reflect our ongoing commitment to supporting early career researchers and building bridges between academia, industry, and policy.
We’re grateful to all members and collaborators who helped shape this successful year. The ZERO ECR Network remains dedicated to empowering the next generation of leaders in the energy transition.
Learn more and get involved: https://zero.ox.ac.uk/about/early-career-researcher-network
