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Welcome to BIO / EES 105 – Energy in Our World: Some opening thoughts. Kenneth M. Klemow, Ph.D. Professor of Biology Associate Director, Institute for Energy and Environmental Research. What is the secret of life?. http://www.beautifulbritain.co.uk/. http://www.fcps.edu/. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Welcome to BIO / EES 105 – Energy in Our World:
Some opening thoughts
Kenneth M. Klemow, Ph.D.Professor of BiologyAssociate Director, Institute for Energy and Environmental Research
What is the secret of life?
http://www.fcps.edu/
http://people.eku.edu/ritchisong/
http://www.beautifulbritain.co.uk/
What is the secret of life?
How do plants and animals ensure many grandchildren?
http://shelledy.mesa.k12.co.us/
http://www.rogerwendell.com/australia.html
Humans are great at modifying our environment
http://www.nyc.gov/html/om/html/gracie.html
http://www.ny.nrcs.usda.gov/
http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/
Modifying our environment takes energy
Securing energy has been a quest of mankind for millennia.
Need. Energy.
My empire for energy.
Before 1880s, energy use small scale
Beginning in 1880s, energy scaled up
http://fineartamerica.com/featured/market-street-manchester--1890-ronald-haber.html
http://www.petroleumhistory.org/OilHistory/pages/Columbia/Wells.html
In past century, we have become reliant on centralized energy generation
http://12degreesoffreedom.blogspot.com/2010/06/no-king-coal.html
http://wonderstube.com/world-wonders/
U.S. success in first half of 20th century due to coal
http://info.heylpatterson.com/
After World War II, other fuels supplanted coal
Optimism ended in 1970s
A national debate eruptedLet’s
conserve energy Ain’t no
gas shortage, hippie!
Energy debate rages on•Influences foreign policy of many nations•Concerns over global climate change•Concerns over nuclear waste disposal
•Influences foreign policy of many nations•Concerns over global climate change•Concerns over nuclear waste disposal
What about alternatives?
•Account for <10% of energy
•Each has own drawback
•Critics argue against poor energy density, unreliability, yield
•Account for <10% of energy
•Each has own drawback
•Critics argue against poor energy density, unreliability, yield
Every energy form has benefits and drawbacksForm Benefits DrawbacksCoal Abundant, cheap, high energy
densityGHG impacts, habitat destruction
Oil High energy density, flexible GHG impacts, foreign policy concerns
Conv. gas High energy density, abundant GHG impacts, declining availability
Nuclear Non fossil fuel, high density Impacts of waste and accidents
Biomass Renewable, non fossil fuel Energy yield questionable
Wind Renewable, non fossil fuel Intermittent, impacts to wildlife
Solar Renewable, non fossil fuel Intermittent, PV requires rare earths
Hydro Renewable, non fossil fuel Limited potential, impacts to rivers
Geothermal
Renewable, non fossil fuel Limited potential in some areas
What about shale gas?
Potential of Marcellus Shale• Underlies 95,000 sq.
mi.• Recoverable reserves
of 360 TCF▫Supply 14 years U.S.
consumption• Potential to create
280,000 jobs• Potential as
transportation fuel• Potential economic
impact of $2 trillion
• Underlies 95,000 sq. mi.
• Recoverable reserves of 360 TCF▫Supply 14 years U.S.
consumption• Potential to create
280,000 jobs• Potential as
transportation fuel• Potential economic
impact of $2 trillionhttp://pennsylvania.sierraclub.org/
Some people are worried
• Groundwater pollution• Surface water
pollution• Habitat fragmentation• Noise• Decreased property
values• Conversion of rural
landscape to industrialized
• Greenhouse gas emissions
• Groundwater pollution• Surface water
pollution• Habitat fragmentation• Noise• Decreased property
values• Conversion of rural
landscape to industrialized
• Greenhouse gas emissions
http://www.propublica.org/
http://www.choosenepa.com/ http://alleghenysc.org/
http://dearsusquehanna.blogspot.com/http://dearsusquehanna.blogspot.com/
Problem: People seem to be talking past each other
http://www.treehugger.com/citizensvoice.com/news/
•Conventional wisdom▫Public will make wise choices if given sound
information•Conventional approach
▫Convert public concerns to research questions▫Address questions using science▫Publish findings in peer-reviewed journal▫Scientists take steps to explain findings to
public•Deficit model
•Conventional wisdom▫Public will make wise choices if given sound
information•Conventional approach
▫Convert public concerns to research questions▫Address questions using science▫Publish findings in peer-reviewed journal▫Scientists take steps to explain findings to
public•Deficit model
How to solve?
•Case study:▫Osborn et al
(2011) PNAS paper on methane in drinking water wells near gas installations
▫Paper intensely discussed by public
•Case study:▫Osborn et al
(2011) PNAS paper on methane in drinking water wells near gas installations
▫Paper intensely discussed by public
Does this work?
•Welcomed by drilling opponents▫Natural Gas Watch: “Study demonstrates
unequivocally that fracking does, in fact, contaminate the water in the area where is used.”
•Criticized by drilling advocates▫Energy in Depth website published
“Durham Bull” essay, providing lengthy accounting of the study’s reported faults.
•Welcomed by drilling opponents▫Natural Gas Watch: “Study demonstrates
unequivocally that fracking does, in fact, contaminate the water in the area where is used.”
•Criticized by drilling advocates▫Energy in Depth website published
“Durham Bull” essay, providing lengthy accounting of the study’s reported faults.
Public reaction polarized
• Develop position on an issue
• Filter science based on their position▫Embrace science that
agrees▫Reject science that
fails to support Often attack
credibility of scientists, journal, review process
• Thus, deficit model doesn’t work
• Develop position on an issue
• Filter science based on their position▫Embrace science that
agrees▫Reject science that
fails to support Often attack
credibility of scientists, journal, review process
• Thus, deficit model doesn’t work
Public engages in “cherry picking”
http://wiki.ironchariots.org/images/b/b8/Cherry_picking_med.jpg
• Partisans criticize scientists ▫ Scientists routinely
discredited based on funding and affiliation
▫ Criticism often personal, credentials, funding called into question
▫ Web 2.0 promotes dissemination of these views, with little filtering.
• Partisans criticize scientists ▫ Scientists routinely
discredited based on funding and affiliation
▫ Criticism often personal, credentials, funding called into question
▫ Web 2.0 promotes dissemination of these views, with little filtering.
What happens with science does not fit bias?
•Proponents: “We know we are extracting gas safely, don’t need research to verify what we already know.
•Opponents: “We know fracking is destroying our environment and communities. Don’t need research to verify.”
•Both sides seem more interested in convincing others of their position, than in keeping an open mind.
•Proponents: “We know we are extracting gas safely, don’t need research to verify what we already know.
•Opponents: “We know fracking is destroying our environment and communities. Don’t need research to verify.”
•Both sides seem more interested in convincing others of their position, than in keeping an open mind.
Some believe no additional research needed.
• “New Conservation” approach▫Requires collaboration between concerned
citizens, industry, policy makers and scientists.• Translational Science
▫Scientists engage with concerned citizens, policy makers, industry
▫Adopt citizen science approaches• No cherry picking• Bridge System II vs System I thinking styles• Goal is to build trust and respect
▫Encourage decision-making based on rational, fact-based discourse and not emotional arm-waving.
• “New Conservation” approach▫Requires collaboration between concerned
citizens, industry, policy makers and scientists.• Translational Science
▫Scientists engage with concerned citizens, policy makers, industry
▫Adopt citizen science approaches• No cherry picking• Bridge System II vs System I thinking styles• Goal is to build trust and respect
▫Encourage decision-making based on rational, fact-based discourse and not emotional arm-waving.
What’s the solution?
Alternative: More of the same
http://www.treehugger.com/citizensvoice.com/news/