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Futurologist is guest speaker at Marches event

Powered roads, making oil from old socks and non-rotating wind farms will be among some of the stranger subjects tackled by an expert in the future at an event in Shropshire next week.

Author and futurologist Robin Mannings will be looking at whether there will be an end to sewers and the creation of ‘buildings that think’ when he addresses delegates at a conference in Ludlow.

Mr Mannings, a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and a Member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, is a guest speaker at the Marches Environmental Technologies Network event on November 1 at Ludlow Racecourse.

Project manager at metnet, Patricia Head, said: “We’re delighted to be welcoming Robin, a well-known futurologist, who will be speaking about what is on the horizon for the environmental sector and the impacts these innovations and changes can have on the businesses and people that work within it.

“Robin has appeared in the media on many occasions, including on the BBC in 2008 when he made predictions for the energy and built environment sectors. He suggested that by 2031 low energy and well insulated buildings will become the norm and buildings will manage energy more efficiently with local storage batteries and recharging facilities for electric vehicles.”

With a special interest in navigation, positioning and tracking, also on Mr Mannings’ radar for delegates will be a look at intelligent transport, smart plastics, enviro-sensing and climate engineering.

The conference, which is free to attend, will also be offering plumbers, electricians and other trades a chance to hear about the business opportunities offered by the Green Deal.

The new Government scheme, launched this month, which will see householders able to make their homes energy efficient without the need to pay upfront.

The metnet conference will also give delegates a chance to network, and learn how to extend and improve their business contacts thanks to a keynote presentation with networking guru and business coach, Kevin Parr.

Workshops available at the free to attend conference include an update on legislation for waste companies and a session on the GrowthAccelerator programme which works with companies to help them expand and grow their operations.

Funded by the ERDF, metnet is a partnership between Herefordshire Council, Shropshire Council, Telford and Wrekin Council and Worcestershire County Council administered by Shropshire Council.Further information on the metnet conference is available on the website at www.met-net.co.uk.

Although the event is free to attend, delegates need to book by emailing metnet@shropshire.gov.uk with ‘metnet conference’ in the subject line, including the name of the delegate and company name and address.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by metnet .