[Env seminars] LFEE seminars-Oct. 27 "The Carbon Conundrum"/Nov. 3 "Hybrid Cars Now, Fuel Cell Cars Later"

[Karen Gibson]

Environment and Sustainability Seminar Series
Sponsored by the MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment (LFEE)

NEXT TWO SEMINARS:

THIS WEEK -  "The Carbon Conundrum"

Howard Herzog
Principal Research Engineer, MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment

Mark de Figueiredo
PhD Candidate, Engineering Systems Division, MIT

Wednesday, October 27
12:00 - 1:30 pm
E40-496

In the August 13, 2004 issue of Science, an article (link below) 
discussed the Carbon Conundrum.  Essentially, the carbon conundrum 
was described as "weaning the world off carbon-based fossil fuels 
would take decades.  During that time, carbon combustion will 
continue to pour greenhouse gases into the atmosphere - unless 
scientists find a way to reroute them."  The article then goes on to 
describe a method to reroute the emissions, namely carbon dioxide 
capture and storage (CCS).  MIT researchers have been pioneers in CCS 
research and have been leaders in the worldwide research community.

In this seminar, we will lead a discussion on the Carbon Conundrum. 
We will present additional background on this subject, including:

1.  Energy statistics for the past 50 plus years for the US showing 
our dependence on fossil fuels and the difficulty in replacing them.
2.  Brief primer on CCS.
3.  A summary of major worldwide CCS activities, both technical and political.
4.  Results of public opinion surveys on energy and the environment 
carried out by MIT researchers.  Data from US, Japan, and UK.  The UK 
data is being shown for the first time (survey completed end of 
September).

We hope the seminar is more of a discussion than a presentation and 
encourage questions and comments as we go along.

ADVANCE READING:  The article "The Carbon Conundrum" by Robert 
Service appeared in Science, Vol 305, Issue 5686, 962-963 , 13 August 
2004.  If you are affiliated with MIT, the article is available 
through MIT's online subscription to Science Magazine:

http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/305/5686/962

NEXT WEEK - "Hybrid Cars Now, Fuel Cell Cars Later"
(Please note the time for this seminar - 12:45-2:15 pm)

Prof. John Deutch
Institute Professor, MIT

Wednesday, November 3
12:45-2:15 pm (NOTE TIME FOR THIS SEMINAR)
E40-496

In the August 13, 2004 issue of Science, an article (link below) by 
John Deutch and Nurettin Demirdoven compared the energy efficiency of 
hybrid and fuel cell vehicles as well as conventional internal 
combustion engines. Their analysis indicates that fuel cell vehicles 
using hydrogen from fossil fuels offer no significant energy 
efficiency advantage over hybrid vehicles operating in an urban drive 
cycle. They conclude that priority should be placed on hybrid 
vehicles by industry and government.  This seminar will focus on the 
analysis and findings presented in the article.

ADVANCE READING:  The article "Hybrid Cars Now, Fuel Cell Cars Later" 
by Nurettin Demirdoven and John Deutch appeared in Science, Vol 305, 
Issue 5686, 974-976, 13 August 2004.  If you are affiliated with MIT, 
the article is available through MIT's online subscription to Science 
Magazine:

http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/305/5686/974

_________________________________________________________________
Part of a series of brown bag talks on issues of energy, environment, 
and sustainability sponsored by the MIT Laboratory for Energy and the 
Environment.  Bring your lunch - cookies and drinks will be provided.

-- 
_________________________________
Karen  L. Gibson
Program Assistant
MIT Laboratory For Energy and the Environment
77 Massachusetts Avenue, E40-469
(1 Amherst St., E40-469 - for DHL and FedEx)
Cambridge, MA 02139  USA
Tel:  1 (617) 258-6368; Fax:  1 (617) 258-6590
http://lfee.mit.edu
http://globalsustainability.org
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