SEED 2024, the International Conference on Sustainable Energy Education, took place from July 3-5, 2024, at the Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain. This groundbreaking event brought together a diverse group of academics, researchers, industry leaders, and policymakers worldwide to explore and contribute to innovative strategies for advancing sustainable energy education.
The SEED conference was designed as a key platform for exchanging ideas, experiences, and research on topics such as: student preparedness, teaching methodologies, partnerships, and governance models that foster a sustainable energy future. The SEED project aimed to inspire collaboration and create a shared vision for sustainable energy education by bringing together a global learning community. Participants included stakeholders from academia, vocational education, industry, NGOs, public authorities, and foundations, reflecting the broad and inclusive scope of the initiative.
Key Highlights:
- Over the course of the conference, participants from 39 countries contributed to the advancement of both regional and international cooperation. Through oral and poster presentations, workshops, and collaborative sessions, attendees exchanged good practices and innovative learning approaches with real-world impact.
- The conference showcased 114 accepted abstracts (85 oral presentations and 29 posters) out of 180 submissions and 18 workshops led by experts from industry, academia, and vocational education sectors.
- A standout feature of SEED 2024 was the high-profile speaker lineup. Keynote addresses were delivered by leading experts such as Prof. Francisco Beltrán from KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden, Dr. Débora Domingo, and Dr. Nuria Matarredona from Universitat Politècnica de València, Msc. Davide Roletto from Climology and Msc. Eugenio Domínguez Amarillo from Hybrid Energy Storage Solutions Ltd. The session was moderated by Honored Guest Speaker, Prof. Dr. Edward S. Rubin from Carnegie Mellon University.
- A team of 220 program committee members representing 33 countries in five continents was led by the conference scientific program team, co-directed by Dr. Elena de la Poza Plaza, Dr. Amparo Blázquez Soriano, Dr. Martijn Rietbergen, Ms. Mariola Guarinos, PhD candidate Evridiki Mantela, and Dr. Semih Severengiz.
SEED 2024 by the Numbers:
- 265 participants from 129 institutions across five continents registered for the event.
- The top five participating countries were Spain (37%), the Netherlands (14%), Italy (9%), Germany (7%), and Greece (4%).
- Representation was pretty balanced, with 54% male and 46% female participants.
- Nearly half of the attendees (47.5%) came from universities; there was also a strong representation from the VET group (20.8%) and the industry (7.9%).
The conference was part of the EU-funded CoVE SEED (Centre of Vocational Excellence – Sustainable Energy Education) project, supported by the Erasmus+ program. The initiative is focused on fostering excellence in sustainable energy education to support the transition to a fossil-free future.
As a strategic tool for promoting transnational learning and collaboration, SEED 2024 has laid the foundation for ongoing partnerships and projects to drive the green energy agenda forward. The event facilitated regional cooperation and fostered transnational collaborations that will continue to grow and evolve in the coming years.
Looking ahead, SEED will continue to expand its global impact, working with new stakeholders and projects to deepen the international conversation on sustainable energy education. Together, we can further our shared mission of creating a fossil-free Europe through regional development, innovation, and inclusion.
Click on the following links to learn more
SEED conference webpage
Keynote speakers
SEED Conference proceedings