Energy Solutions (Video)

Berkeley Lab scientist David Schlegel discusses his research on mapping the universe and understanding dark energy. Series: "Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory " [Science] [Show ID: 29636]

The new abundance of natural gas provides energy options for America, including clean electric power. Oil production has increased, reducing the dependence of the US on imported petroleum. Both benefits come with the challenge of managing the environmental impact of new oil and gas development in the US. This talk discusses the way shale gas and oil are created and produced, and the latest choices now available for generating energy in the United States. Series: "Field Trip at the Lab: Science on Saturday" [Science] [Show ID: 29609]

What are fossil fuels? What is the greenhouse effect? How are the two related? Can we reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and lower the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere? Wind and solar power can help lead the way. Learn how state-of-the-art science and engineering can be used to utilize more clean, green energy from both the wind and the sun, right out of thin air. Series: "Field Trip at the Lab: Science on Saturday" [Science] [Show ID: 29610]

Tim Flannery is a zoologist, a paleontologist, and a mammalogist, as well as one of the world’s leading scientific thinkers and writers on climate change. He discusses how Australia is dealing with climate change.

Series: "Bren School of Environmental Science & Management" [Science] [Show ID: 28605]

China’s carbon-dioxide emissions now greatly exceed those of the United States and are growing at a rapid rate. Any path forward that leads to averting some of the worst climate-change impacts relies on understanding what can be done in China and other rapidly industrializing countries. UC San Diego economist Richard Carson highlights work done with colleagues to forecast Chinese carbon-dioxide emissions and examine tools that China can use to reduce future pollution. Carson is presented as part of the UC San Diego Founders Symposium 2014. Series: "UC San Diego Founders’ Symposium" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 29030]

UC Berkeley economist Sol Hsiang details the economic risks of climate change -- region by region -- with expected jumps in mortality rates, violent crime, worker fatigue and energy consumption as the days become hotter throughout the United States. Hsiang was co-lead author of the American Climate Prospectus, the risk analysis study that led to “The Risky Business Report: The Economic Risks of Climate Change in the United States,” the bipartisan research initiative commissioned by financiers Henry Paulson, Tom Steyer and Michael Bloomberg. Using national maps that illustrate the range of the rising heat, Hsiang explains the importance of understanding these potential impacts in this conversation with Henry E. Brady, dean of the Goldman School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley, as part of the “In the Living Room” interview series. Series: "Richard and Rhoda Goldman School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 28511]

Fusion energy is a possible long-term energy solution to provide the energy needed to drive economic growth and social development. Harnessing the energy of the Sun and stars here on Earth requires a detailed understanding of the behavior of matter at extreme temperature and density conditions. Massive simulations, using up to one million computer processors (equivalent to hundreds of thousands of laptops working simultaneously) play a critical role in this research. They allow us to test different theories and explore different fusion approaches, such as fast ignition of the fusion fuel. Postdoctoral Fellow at Lawrence Livermore National Lab Frederico Fiuza discusses the challenges associated with fusion modeling, and how the outstanding computational resources and advanced computer graphics at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory help us to create a miniature Sun on Earth. Series: "Field Trip at the Lab: Science on Saturday" [Science] [Show ID: 28464]

Across Africa, a new scramble for natural resources is underway, and Cameroon is in its crosshairs. Thomas Smith, Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UCLA, describes how the best science available is being leveraged to identify new protected areas in the face of resource extraction and climate change. He also describes the unique effort to build the Center for Integrative Development in Central Africa. Finally, he discusses a new initiative in Cameroon to reduce global emissions by avoiding deforestation in Cameroon, using emissions fees paid by climate gas emitters in the developed world. Series: "UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability" [Science] [Show ID: 28627]

Arun Majumdar discusses a variety of research opportunities and challenges in stationary power and transportation systems that could enable the transition of our energy economy to a sustainable one. Science has shown that our current course of a fossil-based economy is unsustainable. Majumdar explains that the choice that our society is asked to make is often posed as follows: Should we continue our exponential economic growth based on fossil fuels and ignore the environment, or should we reduce our greenhouse gas emissions at the cost of our economic growth? He argues that this is a false choice because it is based on extrapolating the past and does not account for the capacity of research based on science and engineering to create a new industrial revolution for a sustainable energy future. Series: "Institute for Energy Efficiency" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 28475]

President Barack Obama addresses the University of California, Irvine’s 2014 graduating class. The President challenges the graduates to get involved in one of our planet's most pressing issues: the growing threat of a rapidly changing climate. Series: "UC Climate Solutions Channel " [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 28579]