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Alan Brent

Professor and Chair in Sustainable Energy Systems, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
Alan Brent has bachelor degrees in engineering (chemical) and philosophy (sustainable development); master’s degrees in science (environmental engineering), engineering (technology management), and philosophy (sustainable development); and a doctorate in engineering management. Since 1995 he consulted to a variety of private and public sectors in the fields of environmental engineering and management, and as a project manager, in the Material Science and Manufacturing unit of the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). In 2002 he was tasked with the establishment of the AIDC Chair of Life Cycle Engineering in the Graduate School of Technology Management (GSTM) of the University of Pretoria. The Chair mobilised the GSTM to conduct research on sustainable life cycle management practices in the private and public sectors. In 2006 he returned to the CSIR to initiate and lead research in the Natural Resources and the Environment unit, which promotes sustainable development in management and planning practices, with an emphasis on the energy sector. In 2009 he was appointed as a professor in the Sustainable Development programme of the School of Public Leadership (SPL) in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, and as the associate director of the Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies (CRSES) in the Faculty of Engineering, at Stellenbosch University. In 2014 his academic position at Stellenbosch University changed from the SPL to the Department of Industrial Engineering (IE), as a professor of Engineering Management and Sustainable Systems, where is currently an extraordinary professor. From 2017 he is the professor and chair in Sustainable Energy Systems in the School of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.

Solar farms can eat up farmland – but ‘agrivoltaics’ could mean the best of both worlds for NZ farmers

Jun 06, 2024 11:30 am UTC| Business

New Zealand plans to commission about eight gigawatts of solar photovoltaic projects more than the maximum power demand of the whole country on a typical winters day by 2028, according to the governments latest...

Economy

Western Allies Boost Ukraine Support Amid Ceasefire Talks

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that Western allies, excluding the U.S., are intensifying support for Ukraine in case of a ceasefire with Russia. Starmer hosted a virtual meeting with leaders from Germany,...

Russia Stocks Rally as MOEX Russia Index Gains 2.35%

Russian stocks closed higher on Saturday, with the MOEX Russia Index climbing 2.35%, driven by gains in Telecoms, Oil Gas, and Power sectors. Surgutneftegas PJSC (MCX:SNGS) led the session with a 1.01% rise to 26.04,...

Stock Market Correction Deepens: Will the Sell-Off Continue?

The U.S. stock market has officially entered a correction, with the SP 500 plunging over 10% from its February 19 high. The Nasdaq Composite also confirmed its correction last week. This downturn has erased $5 trillion in...

Wall Street Rallies as Tech Leads, But Trade War and Inflation Fears Loom

The SP 500 surged Friday, led by tech stocks, but still marked its fourth straight weekly loss amid trade war concerns and a sharp drop in consumer sentiment. The Dow Jones gained 674 points (1.7%), the SP 500 rose 2%, and...

Peru’s Central Bank Holds Interest Rate at 4.75% Amid Inflation Stabilization

Perus central bank kept its benchmark interest rate steady at 4.75% on Thursday, aligning with market expectations. The decision follows a gradual easing cycle since September 2023, when the rate peaked at 7.75%, making...

Politics

SpaceX Crew-10 Arrives at ISS to Bring Stranded Astronauts Home

A SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule successfully docked at the International Space Station (ISS) early Sunday, completing a 29-hour journey from NASAs Kennedy Space Center. The Crew-10 mission, which launched Friday at 7:03 p.m....

Russia-Ukraine Conflict Escalates with Intense Aerial Strikes Amid Ceasefire Uncertainty

Russia and Ukraine exchanged heavy aerial strikes as the prospect of a 30-day ceasefire remained uncertain. Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed conditional support for the proposal but vowed to continue military...

Federal Judge Blocks Trump’s Wartime Deportation Order for Venezuelan Gang

A federal judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trumps attempt to use the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to expedite deportations of alleged members of Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang accused of violent crimes. Trump...

Massive Protests in Serbia: Over 100,000 Demand Change in Belgrade

More than 100,000 protesters flooded Serbias capital, Belgrade, in one of the countrys largest demonstrations in decades. The movement, sparked by a deadly railway station collapse that killed 15, has grown into a major...

Trump Orders Massive Strikes on Yemen’s Houthis Amid Rising Tensions

U.S. President Donald Trump launched large-scale military strikes on Yemens Iran-backed Houthi rebels, killing at least 24 people, after continued attacks on Red Sea shipping. The offensive, expected to last weeks, marks...

Science

Leonardo da Vinci’s incredible studies of human anatomy still don’t get the recognition they deserve

Wikimedia, CC BY-SA The mere mention of Leonardo da Vinci evokes genius. We know him as a polymath whose interests spanned astronomy, geology, hydrology, engineering and physics. As a painter, his Mona Lisa and Last Supper...

One of the largest searches for alien life started 30 years ago. Its legacy lives on today

In February 1995, a small research organisation known as the SETI Institute launched what was then the most comprehensive search for an answer to a centuries-old question: are we alone in the universe? This Sunday marks...

South African telescope discovers a giant galaxy that’s 32 times bigger than Earth’s

Inkathazos glowing plasma jets are shown in red and yellow. The starlight from other surrounding galaxies can be seen in the background. K.K.L Charlton (UCT), MeerKAT, HSC, CARTA, IDIA, CC BY You may not know it, but right...

It’s science, not fiction: high-tech drones may soon be fighting bushfires in Australia

Picture this. Its a summer evening in Australia. A dry lightning storm is about to sweep across remote, tinder-dry bushland. The next day is forecast to be hot and windy. A lightning strike tonight could spark a fire that...

Earth is bombarded with rocks from space – but who gets to keep these ultimate antiques?

Every day, about 48.5 tonnes of space rock hurtle towards Earth. Meteorites that fall into the ocean are never recovered. But the ones that crash on land can spark debates about legal ownership. Globally, meteorite hunting...

Technology

Elon Musk and OpenAI Set for Expedited Trial Over AI Dispute

Elon Musk and OpenAI have agreed to fast-track their legal battle over OpenAIs transition to a for-profit model, with a trial set for later this year. The case, playing out in the U.S. District Court for the Northern...

NASA and SpaceX Launch Crew-10 to Replace Stranded Astronauts on ISS

NASA and SpaceX successfully launched the Crew-10 mission on Friday, sending four astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) in a crucial crew rotation. The mission paves the way for the return of NASA astronauts...

NASA and SpaceX Set to Launch Crew-10 Mission to ISS on March 14

NASA and SpaceX are gearing up for the highly anticipated Crew-10 mission, scheduled to launch on Friday, March 14, at 7:03 p.m. EDT (2303 GMT). The mission will carry four astronauts to the International Space Station...

Apple’s Encryption Clash with UK Sparks U.S. Investigation

British and U.S. officials have engaged in private talks over concerns that the UK is pressuring Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) to weaken encryption protections, Bloomberg reported. The discussions follow Apples decision to remove...

AI Revolutionizes Oil and Gas Drilling, Boosting Efficiency and Cost Savings

Artificial intelligence is transforming oil and gas drilling, making once-infeasible projects viable and improving efficiency. At the CERAWeek conference in Houston, industry leaders highlighted how AI-driven innovations...