Our Graphene Harriers join climate change relay to COP27
03 Oct 2022
Trio break in their graphene trainers with 5am run to showcase GEIC’s work to combat climate change – along with fascinating, fast-paced new film
While you were sleeping, our colleagues were breaking in their new graphene trainers to help launch COP27, the upcoming climate conference in Egypt (6-18 November).
Joe Wilson, Nathan Lumb and Dr Paul Wiper ran an 11km leg from their workplace, the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC) as part of the Running Out of Time event, a 7,000km non-stop relay from Glasgow – which hosted the COP 26 climate change conference – to Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, which will stage the next edition.
The Graphene Harriers set off from Stockport rail station on their 11 km section at 5.40BST this morning, arriving at GEIC to the cheers of their workmates.
“Nothing beats running first thing in the morning (even 5AM!) It sets the rest of the day in the right path and it’s a great feeling, getting your exercise done before most people who are now starting their day!” said Joe, Reception and Administrative Assistant described as the “face of the GEIC.”
The GEIC is a milestone on the Running Out of Time route because of the pioneering applications of the nanomaterial graphene into a diverse range of net zero applications, including sustainable building materials, lightweighting, next-gen battery technologies and improved recyclability of materials.
The trio are wearing inov-8 running shoes – featuring award-winning tech developed with the National Graphene Institute to improve wear and comfort. This technology has recently been shortlisted for a national ‘Best of the Best’ Innovate UK award.
The team will begin their part of the relay from the graphene-enhanced concrete ‘living lab’ outside the GEIC, made from emission-busting Concretene, which has shown in trial pours the ability to remove up to 30% of CO2 from floor-slab applications.
“As team we are all very aware that we are in a race against time in finding solutions that will help tackle climate change,” said Applications Manager, Paul.
“We are therefore very proud to play our part in the Running Out of Time relay challenge and to help in delivering a message on climate change to key decision-makers.”
Nathan, a project manager who was part of team that raise the PO and wrote the contract for Concretene, agreed: “It’s a good example of GEIC teamwork, and not just those of us running – it’s created conversations in the office. It demonstrates the work that we are all doing towards better solutions.”
You can watch a film that beautifully spells out all that graphene and the GEIC team are doing to address climate change:
More information
COP 27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt will run from 6 to 18 November 2022. Egypt's presidency vision is stated “to move from negotiations and planning to implementation - now is the time for action on the ground.”