The Future Of Energy - James Woudhuysen [UKH+] (1/10)

When Western elites say, as a response to concerns about climate change, that individual consumers must change their lifestyles and use less energy, they are really abdicating their own responsibility to develop a new, cheap, clean and reliable energy supply. They are scared of investing in nuclear power, scared of moving ahead in carbon capture and storage, and scared of developing new, efficient biofuels whether on the land or in the laboratory. Public guilt about climate change is a waste of energy. Progress may have got us into this mess but it is also what is going to get us out of it.

This talk builds on elements of the speaker's recent book "Energise! A future for energy innovation" (co-authored with Joe Kaplinsky). This book has been described "A cogent, widely researched analysis of the future of energy which will enable readers finally to distinguish fact from fiction" and "A hugely useful reframing of the debate". The talk will be of interest to everyone concerned with the future of technology, and the role of innovation and culture to support a richly energetic society.

About the speaker:

James Woudhuysen, Professor of Forecasting & Innovation, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK.
Physics graduate; contributor to Computing and the New Civil Engineer; visiting Professor of Forecasting and Innovation at De Montfort University, Leicester, UK. Article on chemical weapons for The Economist, 1978; co-author, Robots, 1984; The future of cities, report for Glasgow Development Agency, 1988; multi-client study on e-commerce, 1988; proposed Internet TV, 1993. Manager, worldwide market intelligence, Philips Consumer Electronics, 1995-7; Cult IT, ICA, 1999; Play as the main event in international and UK culture, Cultural Trends, 2003; Why is construction so backward? (John Wiley, 2004); Energise! A future for energy innovation (Beautiful Books, 2009). His website, http://www.Woudhuysen.com/, carries the title "Thinking about the future".

This lecture was recorded on 15th of August 2009 at the UKH+ meeting. For information on further meetings please see:
http://extrobritannia.blogspot.com/

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Research
• and
• development
• R&D
• Energise!
• James
• Woudhuysen
• UKH+
• H+

[StonefieldJim4]

Thanks for posting this. JW's a great speaker, and a much-needed champion of reason and progress in our pessimistic times.