Topics covered have included:
* Metals (2005)
* Energy (2006, 2011, 2016)
* Transport (2007, 2012, 2014)
* Environment (2008, 2015)
* Climate Change (2009)
* Space Travel (2010)
* Homes for the Future (2013)
The speakers and their topics are listed below.
Great Debate 2016: Can renewables meet our electricity needs? (14 March 2016)The fourth Great Debate to be held as part of Reading Science week at the University of Reading. The speakers were:
* Chairman: Professor Stuart Green, University of Reading
* Professor Feargal Brennan, Director of Energy, Cranfield University - Wind Power
* Professor Humayun Mughal, CEO, Silicon CPV Plc - Solar Power
* Andrew Haslett, Chief Engineer of the Energy Technologies Institute - Energy Storage
* Dr Phil Coker, Lecturer in Renewable Energy, University of Reading - Grid Changes.
Presentations from this event can be viewed on IET.tv. You must be logged in to the IET website to view these presentations. A report of the event is available to download.
Great Debate 2015: Engineering the environment: coping with climate change (16 March 2015)The third Great Debate to be part of Reading Science Week, again hosted by Reading University in the Palmer Building on the Whiteknights campus. The speakers were:
* Chairman: Professor Stuart Green, Reading University
* Professor Nigel Arnell, Director of the Walker Institute and Professor of Climate at University of Reading who spoke on the Expected Challenges.
* Dr Andy Tagg, Group Manager Floods at HR Wallingford, who spoke on Asset Protection.
* Dr Raghav Pant, a Post-Doctoral Researcher at University of Oxford, who spoke on Infrastructure issues.
* Dr Peter Falloon, Manager of Climate Impacts Modelling Group at the Met Office, who spoke on Environmental and Societal Changes.
Presentations from this event can be viewed on IET.tv. You must be logged in to the IET website to view these presentations.
The Great Railway Debate: How Britain’s Railways need to change to meet the needs of the 21st Century (18 March 2014)
The second Great Debate to be part of Reading Science Week, again hosted by Reading University in the Palmer Building on the Whiteknights campus.
* Chairman: Professor Stuart Green, Reading University
* HS2 - Rob Avery CEng MICE MAPM, Construction Manager, London Bridge Associates and Construction Planner for HS2
* Improving Capacity – Crossrail as an example - Terry Morgan, Chairman, Crossrail
* Digital Asset Information - Professor Jennifer Whyte, University of Reading
* Infrastructure Improvements – Reading Station redevelopment - Paul Newman, Network Rail
Presentations from this event can be viewed on IET.tv. You must be logged in to the IET website to view these presentations.
Great Debate 2013: Homes for the Future – a Challenge and an Opportunity (19 March 2013)
The first Great Debate to be part of Reading Science Week, hosted by Reading University in the Palmer Building on the Whiteknights campus.
The design of houses and their services is changing through the pressure to reduce energy demand and carbon emissions and through the introduction of new technology. Do we really appreciate the implications of this? This event looked into the future and set out a clearer picture of what we should expect.
* Introduction and setting the scene, Professor Stuart Green, Reading University, (Chairman)
* Design and Construction, Oliver Novakovic, Director of Building Futures, Building Research Establishment
* Power and Heating, Professor Tony Day, Director, International Energy Research Centre, Tyndall National Institute, Cork
* Water Supply and Drainage, Dr Paul Rutter, Innovation team, Thames Water Utilities Ltd
* Control Systems, Russell Downing & Pete Haseler, Siemens KNX
Presentations from this event can be viewed on IET.tv.
Great Personal Transport Debate: Will your car cost the earth? (18 April 2012)
* Chairman: John Wood, former MD MIRA and immediate Past President IMechE
* Fuels for ultra low carbon vehicles, John Rogerson, Fuels Advisor, BP Global Fuels Technology
* Internal Combustion Engines, Cedric Rouaud, Chief Engineer, Ricardo
* Hybrid cars, Jon Hilton, Managing Partner, Flybrid Systems LLP
* Electric Cars and Recharging Infrastructure, Professor Phil Blythe, Director of the Transport Operations Research Group, University of Newcastle
* Road Pricing and Future Roads Infrastructure, Professor Stephen Glaister – Director, RAC Foundation and Professor of Transport and Infrastructure, Imperial College
Presentations from this event can be viewed on IET.tv.
Great Energy Debate 2011 (30 March 2011)
* Chairman: Prof Sir Brian Hoskins, Reading University
* Setting the Scene, Dr Tim Fox (IMechE Theme Manager)
* Renewable Generation, Professor Philip Eames, Director, Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology (CREST), Loughborough University
* Carbon Capture & Storage, John Griffiths, Senior Consultant, Process and Technology Division, London Operations, Jacobs
* Nuclear, Alastair Smith, Costain
* Smart Grid, Duncan Botting, Executive Chairman, the Scottish European Green Energy Centre
Presentations from this event can be viewed on IET.tv.
Great Space Debate (18 March 2010)
Great Hall, University of Reading.
The objectives of the Great Space Debate were to investigate the practicalities of journeying into outer space, consider whether the cost benefit of space exploration is worthwhile, and to argue the case for and against leaving planet Earth.
* Frank Mugford, Reading IMechE, Chairman
* Chris Welch - Lecturer in Astronautics at Kingston University
* David Clements - Astrophysics Lecturer, Imperial College
* Derek Wall - Green Party Principal Speaker
* Stuart Eves - Surrey Satellite Technology Limited
* Jeremy Curtis - Science and Technology Facilities Council
Great Climate Changing Debate: Can GeoEngineering save the planet? (9 June 2009)
Great Hall, University of Reading.
* Chairman: Professor Peter Liss, CBE FRS (University of East Anglia)
* Professor John Shepherd FRS, Tyndall Centre, University of Southampton
* Professor David Cope, Director of Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology
* Dr Alan Gadian, Senior Research Lecturer, University of Leeds
* Dr Olivier Boucher, Met Office, Hadley Centre
* Dr David Santillo, Research Fellow in Bioscience, University of Exeter
* Miriam Kennet, CEO Green Economics Institute
* Dr Tim Fox, Head, Environment & Climate Change, IMechE
Presentations from this event can be viewed on IET.tv.
Great Environment Briefing (9 April 2008)
Reading Town Hall
* Chairman: Professor Sir Brian Hoskins, CBE., FRS (Imperial College and Reading University)
* Setting the scene. Professor Roland Clift, CBE, FREng. (Surrey University)
* Energy, Professor John Twiddell (AMSET Centre)
* Water management, the lessons it can provide, Professor Peter Matthews, OBE. (Society of the Environment).
* Waste, Jeff Cooper (President of Chartered Institute of Waste Management)
* Air Quality, Dr Tim Chatterton (University of the West of England
This event can be viewed on IET.tv.
The Great Transport Debate (8 March 2007)
Palmer Building, University of Reading
* Chairman: Professor John Wootton CBE, University of Southampton
* Setting the scene, Professor Mike McDonald, University of Southampton
* The Movement of People – Road, Gwyn Drake, Divisional Director, Highways Agency
* The Movement of People – Rail, Professor Andrew McNaughton - Network Rail
* The Movement of Freight – Road and Rail, Professor Michael Browne - University of Westminster
* Environmental Impacts, Stephen Joseph OBE, Executive Director, Transport 2000
* Policy Options and Strategies, Tony Cross, Consultant, WSP
Presentations from this event can be viewed on IET.tv.
The Great Energy Debate: Are we doing enough to keep the lights on? (8 March 2006)
Palmer Building, Reading University
* Introduction by Andrew Ives IMechE President
* Chairman: John Baxter, Director of Engineering BP
* Energy Reduction, Roger Venables
* Fossil Fuels, Stephen Berry
* Nuclear Fission, Daniel Barker
* Fusion, David Ward
* Renewables, Peter Fraenkel
Presentations from this event can be viewed on IET.tv.
The Great Metals Debate: What is best for cars? (13 April 2005)
Foster Wheeler, Shinfield Park, Reading
* Judge - Professor Tony Atkins, Reading University
* Counsels: Andy Clough, Corus Automotive
* Roy Woodward, the Aluminium Federation
* Dr Tony Lawson, Meridian Technologies
* Professor Zhongyun Fan, Brunel University
* Expert Witness: John Sellors, Lotus
These presentations were not filmed.