Australian Energy Social Science Workshop 2026

The ANU Centre for Energy Systems is delighted to host the Australian Energy Social Science (AESS) Workshop 2026, to be held at The Australian National University in Canberra. 

The workshop will bring together researchers, policymakers, industry, and community representatives to explore the social dimensions of various aspects of energy such as transitions, politics, and technology effects.

This workshop is treasured by those who have attended in the past as it provides a dedicated space for cross-sector dialogue on energy issues that are often underexplored in technical or market-focused forums. 

Day 1 - Policy and practice session (panel and collective discussions)

This interactive session is designed to support informed dialogue on policy and implementation challenges and will consist of presentations, panel discussions and audience Q&A. 

Draft Agenda

2pm: Welcome and scene setting: Dr Phillipa Watson, ANU Centre for Energy Systems

2.15pm: Panel 1 - Social research in energy research planning, what is needed
Panel members:

Emeritus Professor Ken Baldwin, Research School of Physics, ANU
Lynne Gallagher, Board Member, Australian Energy Regulator
Jacquie Crawshaw, Policy Director, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW)

Facilitated by Associate Professor Kim Blackmore, ANU Centre for Energy Systems.

Professor Baldwin will begin the panel by sharing information about the Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA) Australian Energy Transition Research Plan to set the scene in relation to thinking about social energy research in energy research planning.

3.30pm: Afternoon tea

3.45pm: Panel 2 - Social research and its place in the energy systems transition
Panel members:

Jana Farook, Senior Policy Advisor, ACT Council for Social Service
Dr Kimberley Crofts, Manager Consumer Advocacy, Energy Consumers Australia
Dr Katie Hepworth, National Policy Director, Electrical Trades Union

Facilitated by Dr Wendy Conway-Lamb, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Centre for Deliberative Democracy & Centre for Environmental Governance, University of Canberra.

5:05-5:15pm summarise and close.

Register to attend Day 1 - Policy and practice session here.

Program for Day 1

If you require accessibility accommodations or a visitor Personal Emergency Evacuation plan please contact the event organiser at energysystems@anu.edu.au.

Who should attend?

• Energy and social science researchers
• Public servants and policy advisors from government and peak bodies
• Industry and applied research practitioners
• Community and stakeholder representatives, and
• Early-career professionals interested in energy transitions. 

This workshop is useful for people who would like to: 

• Understand current energy transition issues and ideas
• Engage directly with cross-sector expertise and perspectives
• Contribute to national conversations on equitable and effective energy transitions
• Access policy-relevant social insights and real-world case discussions, and
• Build connections across research, policy, and practice communities.

This session follows the ANU Energy Update 2026, taking place on the morning of 17 September 2026, also in the Kambri Precinct.

Day 2 - Workshop

A day specifically for social science researchers and those with a keen interest in their research. The workshop will include discussions, presentations and interactive sessions focused on current and emerging energy research and energy challenges. This day will showcase research, explore dynamics shaping energy transitions and create space for reflective discussion across disciplines and sectors.

Register to attend Day 2 - Workshop here.

Program for Day 2

Draft Agenda

8.30am for a 9am start
9am – Welcome, Acknowledgment of Country, housekeeping
9:15am - Session 1 - Regional transition and publics - talks and World Café
10:55am - Morning tea
11:20am - Session 2 Rethinking demand and equity - talks
12:20pm - Session 3 Urban electrification and households - World Café
1:10pm - Lunch
2pm - Session 3 Urban electrification and households - talks
3pm - Afternoon tea
3:15pm - Session 4 Intermediaries and Infrastructure - talks
4:15pm - Session 5 – Weaving the AESS Workshop threads
5.15pm - Close

If you require accessibility accommodations or a visitor Personal Emergency Evacuation plan please contact the event organiser at energysystems@anu.edu.au.

Call for abstracts

Abstracts are invited from researchers, research students (see below), practitioners, and project teams for 15 minute presentations on Friday 18 September.  We welcome abstracts covering social aspects of energy systems, technologies, and transitions, from all disciplines. 

While we are keen to hear about everything that is going on in the word of social energy research, we will have limited presentation slots on the day. All abstracts will therefore be reviewed by the AESS organising committee. Abstracts will be selected to ensure the day includes a range of projects, topics, approaches, and perspectives. 

Please submit the following information to energysystems@anu.edu.au by 5pm 14 August 2026.

• Presenter biography (maximum 100 words)
• Summary of presentation (maximum 250 words)
• Do you plan to attend in-person or online?

Please also let us know if the presenter is a higher degree research student who would like to travel to attend the workshop in person to present.  

Funding to support Higher Degree Researchers to travel to workshop and present

We have travel support of up to $400 for 6 HDRs who are presenting. When submitting abstracts, please make a note if the presenter is an HDR student who is planning to travel to the workshop and needs support to attend. We will let HDR students know whether we can offer them this travel support when we notify about abstract acceptance. 

Travel funding for HDRs has been made available through the ARC Laureate fellowship research program, 'Regional decarbonisation transitions: an inclusive, place-based approach’ involving Chris Gibson, Tash Larkin, Ben Madden and Shay Dougall. We thank the team for this generous support.

The AESS committee is aiming to notify people who submitted abstracts whether they have a presentation slot by 24 August.

More information

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