ZERO Institute shortlisted for CIBSE Awards 2025 in Learning and Development

Launched in the 2023-2024 academic year, the new ZERO teaching and internship programme represents a groundbreaking approach to education in the Department of Engineering Science. The initiative introduces new courses in Building Services Engineering within the Master of Engineering (MEng) degree programme, designed to equip future engineers with the skills needed to achieve zero-carbon energy systems in buildings.

The nomination for this award underscores the importance of collaboration in driving innovation and education for a sustainable future. It also serves as an invitation for industry leaders to join hands in supporting and funding these transformative activities, ensuring a robust pipeline of skilled professionals ready to tackle the challenges of the zero-carbon transition. Looking ahead, the ZERO Institute plans to expand these activities into other graduate and postgraduate programmes, incorporating more activities on sustainability and net-zero practices. Future initiatives include summer internships for students funded by different colleges, local institutions, and companies. These opportunities will provide students with invaluable hands-on experience in the net-zero energy sector, both within research groups and in collaboration with external organisations. 

Coordinated by Professor Jesus Lizana under the framework of the ZERO Institute, the programme benefits from the expertise of leading academics in the energy sector at Oxford, including Professor David Wallom, Dr Scot Wheeler, Dr Branoc Richards, Dr Zeynep Tekler, and Laurence Peinturier. This collaborative effort places a strong emphasis on hands-on learning, incorporating real-world case studies while actively supporting Oxford’s local transition to net zero.

The collaboration spans across three Oxford Colleges - Wolfson, Exeter, and Lincoln - which provide essential support for the initiative, by granting students access to existing building data that they can use as case studies, facilitating visits to energy facilities and systems, and offering valuable insights into the real-world challenges and constraints faced by the building industry.

Key contributors to this ZERO Institute’s initiative include Chris Licence, Home Bursar at Wolfson College; Ray Upton, Estates Manager at Wolfson College; Julian Mitchell, Estates Manager at Lincoln College; Michele McCartney, Domestic Operations Manager at Lincoln College; Steven Cunningham, Buildings Manager at Exeter College; Babis Karakoulas, Domestic Bursar at Exeter College; and Juliet Tye, Sustainability Officer at both Lincoln and Exeter Colleges.

The full list of shortlisted candidates for the CIBSE Awards 2025 can be viewed at CIBSE BPA Shortlist 2025. The winners will be revealed during the CIBSE Awards ceremony on Thursday, 27 February 2025, at Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, London.