Kirwan, Kerry, Maggs, S. J. and Wood, Benjamin M. (2009) Motorsport as a 'vehicle' for technology transfer and public engagement with sustainable materials – a case study. In: 5th International Conference on Environmental, Cultural, Economic and Social Sustainability, University of Technology, Mauritius, Jan 5-7, 2009. Published in: Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Environmental, Cultural, Economic and Social Sustainability

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Abstract

Motorsport and environmental sustainability are widely perceived to be incompatible. This perception, whether justified or not, has presented an opportunity to engage with the public on sustainable technologies as well as provided a platform for technology transfer activities and the development of research questions. Indeed, it can now be argued with some justification that the selection of motorsport as the ‘vehicle’ for such a message is more effective than discussing sustainable technology in a more apposite “mainstream” context. This has been the experience of researchers at Warwick Manufacturing Group in their Eco Friendly Motorsport project. Unprecedented interest was seen from press and public when a small racing car, Eco One, was ‘greened up’. The project managed to leverage unprecedented press and public engagement for relatively little effort or expenditure. The project was successful in engaging young people, in schools and public science events, in pertinent discussion. In particular, ethical issues such as the justification of biofuels in terms of food crop usage and the associated global shortages and large scale pillaging of natural resources. The project generated academic interest from a number of international partners and has resulted in new research questions. There is evidence that the project acted as an enabler for a number of technology transfer activities. The key learning point is that by seeking out a seemingly paradoxical partnership between motorsport and sustainability practitioners, more impact was generated than through traditional and more obvious routes.

Item Type:	Conference Item (Lecture)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HM Sociology T Technology > TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) T Technology > TS Manufactures
Divisions:	Faculty of Science > WMG (Formerly the Warwick Manufacturing Group)
Journal or Publication Title:	Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Environmental, Cultural, Economic and Social Sustainability
Publisher:	Common Ground Publishing
Date:	2009
Status:	Not Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Open Access
Conference Paper Type:	Lecture
Title of Event:	5th International Conference on Environmental, Cultural, Economic and Social Sustainability
Type of Event:	Conference
Location of Event:	University of Technology, Mauritius
Date(s) of Event:	Jan 5-7, 2009
URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/48253

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