Raffaella Oconev - Energy Challenges from a Materials Perspective

About the lecture

This talk by Professor Raffaella Ocone OBE FREng FRSE explores a personal journey in engineering research, from an initial focus on contributions in a fossil fuel-dominated era to its current aims of supporting the global energy transition. The presentation outlines how engineering practices and research priorities have shifted in response to growing concerns about climate change, environmental sustainability and the need for cleaner energy sources.

The emerging role of hydrogen as a key contributor to the future energy landscape is discussed. The discussion covers the potential of hydrogen as a clean energy vector and the challenges associated with its production, storage and distribution.

The talk also discusses the new set of tools and methodologies that engineers are employing to advance the development of equitable technologies. This includes innovative approaches to design, modelling and simulation that are more inclusive and consider a broader range of social, economic and environmental impacts. The talk discusses the importance of these new tools in creating technologies that are not only efficient and effective but also equitable and accessible to diverse communities around the world.

By combining insights into the evolution of engineering research in the energy arena with a perspective on emerging technologies and methodologies, the talk provides an overview of how engineers can contribute to a more sustainable and equitable future. Insights into the needed research are also provided.

About Professor Raffaella Ocone

Professor Raffaella Ocone OBE, FREng, FRSE holds degrees from the Università di Napoli, Italy, and Princeton University, USA. Raffaella holds the Chair of Chemical Engineering at Heriot-Watt University, UK, and is a Guest Professor at Ruhr University Bochum, Germany. Currently, Professor Ocone serves as the Deputy President of the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) and will become the 84th President in 2025.

In 2007, Raffaella was honoured with the title of Cavaliere by the President of the Italian Republic. In 2017, she became the inaugural "Caroline Herschel Visiting Professor" in Engineering at Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, in recognition of her contributions to engineering ethics. In 2019, Professor Ocone was recognised as one of the top 100 Most Influential Women in the Engineering Sector by Inclusive Boards, in partnership with the Financial Times.

Raffaella's research primarily focuses on modelling multiphase reactive systems, with a particular emphasis on developing responsible technologies in the energy sector. Her current work centres on advancing low-carbon hydrogen production.