Wadhams appointed as Extreme E scientific committee lead

Credit: Extreme E

Furthering its commitment to produce an eco-friendly event whilst also conducting climate research, Extreme E has launched its scientific committee headed by the University of Cambridge’s Peter Wadhams.

The university’s department of applied mathematics and theoretical physics previously worked with Extreme E organisers last year, whilst also advising the off-road series to select Kangerlussuaq in Greenland as one of its inaugural races.

Speaking to AutoSport, Wadhams stated: “Extreme E is a highly ambitious and exciting project which will use sport, specifically electric racing, to increase attention to remote environments on the front-line of the climate emergency and the challenges facing our planet which we simply cannot ignore.

“The climate issues Extreme E plans to highlight are all linked to the central issue of global warming and the rapid increase in CO2 levels in the atmosphere, which have reached record, devastating rates, especially over the past decade.”

All staff, drivers and crew will board the RMS St Helena during the series in order to reduce as much as possible the level of emissions produced, highlighting that Extreme E will be eco-friendly on and off the track. 

Wadhams added: “With more than 30% of the planet’s emissions coming from transportation, this sector is a huge contributor to atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.

“It’s a fact that more people watch sport than watch scientific documentaries, so I fully support Extreme E’s platform of using motorsport to showcase electric vehicles and promote their adoption as an impactful solution for our planet’s future health.”

The professor will head a five-man side which will conduct research on the climates of every race event in the five-track series, starting in Lac Rose, Dakar, Senegal on January 23, 2021.

Alejandro Agag, the founder and CEO of Extreme E, concluded: “We are truly honoured to have such a respected and knowledgeable mind advising our series.

“The Extreme E scientific committee is the vital bedrock of our series as it supports the very reason we designed this championship, to build climate awareness and accelerate the adoption of renewable energy vehicles in the fight to help lower the planet’s CO2 levels.

“Professor Wadhams has been a staunch advocate in the work we are doing here, from the moment he was chosen to advise on our Greenland location selection process.”

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