'And there was light!' Small-scale renewable energy in developing countries

'And there was light!' Small-scale renewable energy in developing countries with Lara Lewington, University of Brighton

National electricity grids in developing countries cannot reach a lot of rural areas but, by generating a local renewable and resilient energy supply, communities can underpin their own economic development. Lara will talk about projects that generate sustainable renewable energy and enable people from local communities to run them as entrepreneurial businesses. She will also talk about volunteering with Engineers Without Borders UK, and her work with Rural Development organisations in India.

Currently working at the University of Brighton, Lara started her career as an Engineering Technician and Test Engineer for 8 years, and then studied for a degree in Engineering Product Design at the University of Sussex.

She has been a consultant to the Universities of Sussex and Brighton, helping to introduce the Engineers Without Borders (EWB-UK) “Engineering for People” national design competition, and helping to run the EWB Student Branches at both Sussex and Brighton Universities. She has also volunteered as a STEM Ambassador and a judge of school regional engineering awards.

Over the last 10 years Lara has spent six months in India and Nepal, volunteering on engineering projects and speaking at technical conferences, specifically engaging with development organisations that promote renewable energy and appropriate technologies, which fulfil both local development and educational needs.