Top 10 in 2023
With 2023 just about in the books, what better time to celebrate some of the wonderful content produced by our Centre for Energy Ethics members & affiliates!
So, in the spirit of the season, here is our Top 10 list of most-visited content pages on the CEE website in 2023. You can click on the titles or associated images for a link to the full posts.
Number 10: DR TIM HEWLETT: SCIENTIST AND ACTIVIST
In 10th place we have All About Energy podcast ep. 4. Released in June 21, this episode features University of St Andrews Alumnus and co-founder of Scientist Rebellion, Tim Hewlett.
Co-hosted by Sarah O’Brien, James and Sarah also discuss news about the creation of a brand new catalytic material and the recent landmark UK court case involving members of Extinction Rebellion.
Number 9: From the Roots Up
A summer of Research at the St Andrews Forest
Victoria Lee’s blog post from Dec 22 comes in at number 9. This blog post provides an overview of the undergraduate summer research project at the St Andrews Forest. Through the University’s 2022 Summer Teams Enterprise Programme (STEP), a seven-student-strong team from across degree programmes and with diverse backgrounds were brought together to create a draft protocol for assessing the benefits of the Forest programme.
Number 8: THE ENERGY ETHICS OF UNDERSTANDING
OUR PLACE IN THE UNIVERSE
Professor Vivienne Wild’s reflection piece from June 2022 comes in at number 8. This blog post examines on the impact which studying the far-reaches of space has on our own world. What is the climate-cost of our interest in our Universe?
This post also inspired a new poem from our Artist-inResidence Rebecca Sharp.
Number 7: UNDERSTANDING ENERGY: WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT NUCLEAR ENERGY AGAIN?
Back in 2021 then University of St Andrews PhD student (now graduate) Andreas Bock Michelsen published this as part of his ‘Understanding Energy’ blog series. In 2023, it has proven just as popular as ever reaching 7th on our most popular posts list!
In this blog post, Adreas asks why is nulear energy despite its dangerous and polluting nature considered an important element of the green energy transition?
Number 6: THE FLAME TOWERS OF BAKU: NEW BUILDING, OLD SYMBOL?
At number 6 we have Leyla Sayfutdinova‘s 2021 blog post. Since their construction in 2013, debates on whether the Flame Towers are ‘beautiful’ or ‘ugly’, whether they deserve to be a symbol of Baku or not, whether they are intended for ‘tourists’ or the ‘locals’ have been ongoing. This post places the towers within the context of Baku and Azerbaijan’s local and national identities, exploring the importance of fire imagery and the modern connection of these ideas to the oil industry.
Number 5: TEHRAN: THE PETROLEUM CAPITAL
Published in February 2023, Roya Khoshnevis’ blog post looking at Tehran comes in at number 5.
Since the beginning of the 20th century, Tehran’s development has been closely linked with the oil industry. However, this connection to oil and petroleum culture has created its own set of challenges for the country’s ability to moving toward renewable energy practices.
Number 4: Oil, Oil, Who wants some Oil? Part 4
Part 4 of this 5-part blog series published by Mette High and Sean Field comes in at number 4. In this series, High and Field reflect on the causes and consequences of this historic fall of the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil price in April 2020.
In this blog post, released in December 2020, High and Field take a look at The Brent Crude Complex, the dynamics of the supply & demand of oil, and also the social construction of futures markets.
Number 3: WHAT HAVE WHALES GOT TO DO WITH FOSSIL FUELS AND RENEWABLE ENERGY?
Russell Fielding’s post from September 2020 makes it into third place for the year.
This post considers the unlikely link between whaling and the renewable energy transition. Fielding demonstrates how findings from environmental research conducted in collaboration with a small whaling community in the Caribbean provide key evidence for the healthy and sustainable benefits of renewable energy systems, especially in the context of small island developing states.
Number 2: WHAT I LEARNED BIKING TO WORK IN TEXAS
Our most recent blog post shoots up the rankings to secure second place!
Having lived in cities with robust public transportation systems and extensive bike lane networks, Andy’s choice not to drive had never an issue. However, this choice not to get behind the wheel was to be tested from December 2022 when he took a job in Austin, Texas. Andy Guido Eskenazi’s blog post examines the challenges andenvironmental impacts of his decision to ride his recently purchased ebike to work.
Number 1: NATURAL GAS IN THE UK, PART 1
INFRASTRUCTURES & GEOPOLITICS
The most visited content page of 2023 is the blog post from Sean Field on natural gas in the UK!
In this part one of this series, released in September 2021, Sean demonstrates how the deregulation and financialization of UK natural gas over the last couple of decades exposed consumers to the geopolitics of natural gas pipelines and fluctuations in financial market prices for natural gas.
