The Centre for Environmental Strategy celebrates 20 years

Wednesday 25 July 2012

To mark its 20th anniversary and to look forward to its future development CES celebrated on Tuesday 26th June 2012 with “Glancing back & Looking forward …”  an exciting afternoon and evening of events at which CES welcomed many of its Alumni, leading figures from industry and government and ex staff.

The afternoon was devoted to a dozen sector workshops each chaired by a leading expert during which practitioners and researchers defined the research and training needs for a ‘sustainable’ future.   Following the workshops the early evening was spent in the Griffiths Theatre where the President and Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Sir  Christopher Snowden welcomed around 200 guests.  In line with the theme of the event “Glancing back & Looking forward….” Emeritus Professor Roland Clift, the Founding Director of CES, reflected on the formation of the Centre, its growth and excellent achievements over its first 20 years.  Professor Matthew Leach, the current Director of the Centre, then looked forward to CES’ future developments and how it can help to shape responses to the major sustainability challenges that lie ahead.   The audience was then privileged to hear Keynote talks from Sara Parkin, Founder Director of Forum for the Future and CES’ Professor Tim Jackson.  

This part of the event closed with a question and answer panel, chaired by Surrey’s Professor Jim Al-Khalili with panel members drawn from the University, public and private sectors, research organisations and NGOs.  Within the overall theme: “How a research and training organisation can help to shape responses to the major sustainability challenges that lie ahead” there was a lively panel discussion in response to questions from the audience. 

The event culminated with a reception and locally-sourced buffet supper where guests were entertained by the beautiful music of saxophone and guitar duet Fiona Asbury and Clement Regert, and where they had the opportunity to view the current cutting edge research being carried out within the Centre, continue earlier discussions, make valuable contacts and meet old friends.  During the reception the World’s first environmentally friendly self chilling drinks can was unveiled by its inventor American entrepreneur Mitchell Joseph and Surrey’s Emeritus Professor Roland Clift who has been working with the Joseph Company of California to develop a way to deliver cooled drinks without refrigerated storage: the CHILLCAN® technology.

Please visit CES’ website again later in the summer when a section dedicated to this event will be available showing full information and workshop outcomes, videos and photographs.