President's Welcome

Introduction from Patrick Randall  - President of Durham Student Energy Society

Welcome to the first Newsletter of the academic year from Durham University Student Energy Society (DUSES)! The Newsletter started last year and will continue to be run by former President, Christian Johnson. The monthly newsletter has been a resounding success with writers producing fascinating articles on recent developments across the energy sector with a focus on the energy trilemma – the affordability, security and sustainability of energy supply. We have a new keen and talented newsletter team made up of writers, designers and editors all looking to improve their knowledge, and become more in-tune with the complex, constantly changing global energy landscape. I hope you enjoy reading and hopefully learning something new!

What is DUSES and how you can get involved?

The society was set up 8 years ago and has since been the voice on energy-related issues amongst Durham’s student population. We have evolved in our scope and focus since our inception however we have always been affiliated with the Durham Energy Institute, a global leader of interdisciplinary and inter-sector group of academics and professionals who help inform energy-related policy. In partnership with the Institute and through our own brilliant events team we promote and hold events from a range of industry experts open to everyone and have several exciting initiatives in the pipeline that Durham students from any academic background can get involved in. So, keep an eye out on our social media pages, details of which can all be found through our Linktree in our bio, for opportunities to get involved in future Newsletter teams and through the schemes we are currently in the planning stages of (think mentorships and energy advisory roles!).

Who am I?

Hi, I’m Paddy and I joined DUSES as President off the back of a year in industry working in corporate climate change strategy at Centrica plc (parent of several energy companies including British Gas) and am in the final year of my Geography degree.

Being part of a small team with the responsibility of guiding the UK’s largest energy company on its Net Zero journey has made me acutely aware of how hard it is to decarbonise the energy sector while guaranteeing security of supply and keeping prices affordable for customers. 

It is a policy problem, a capital allocation challenge, and behavioural change issue (as well as countless others) all rolled into one! But this means there are a wealth of fascinating topics in energy to study and build a career around that go towards addressing the climate crisis and making the energy system fairer and more equal.