Dr. Alfred S. Schlachter, a physicist from the
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory at the University of California, will
visit the University of San Carlos on March 15, 2010. He will give a talk
entitled, “Over a barrel: revolutionizing the way we power our cars” at
the College of Architecture and Fine Arts (CAFA) Theater at 2:00 P.M. This
event is made possible by the Office of Research and the Department of Physics.
Dr. Schlachter is a very accomplished scientist with expertise in the field of
atomic and molecular physics, x-rays and synchrotron radiation among others. He
is also an energy efficiency proponent who co-wrote the American Physical
Society (APS) evaluation report in 2008 entitled “Energy Future: Think
Efficiency. How America can look within to achieve energy security and reduce
global warming.” In his talk, he plans to discuss several issues related to
the dwindling supply of oil and how we can adapt. The talk, open to all, is
intended for a lay audience.
Abstract of Dr. Schlachter's talk
Over a barrel: revolutionizing the way we
power our cars
The world’s political and economic stability is
threatened due to increasing energy demand and major fluctuations in the price
of petroleum. And our planet is threatened by carbon dioxide emitted by
combustion of fossil fuels.
We need to rethink transportation and change the
way we power our cars. Examples of the use of electricity and hydrogen for
transportation fuel and their associated costs will be presented.
The issues are particularly acute in parts of
the developing world, where human-powered means of transportation are being
replaced by motorized transportation, posing major problems in energy sources,
congestion, and pollution, and contributing to global climate change.
Worldwide sources of energy, demographics, and
prices based on speculation will all be discussed.
Dr. Fred Schlachter*
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, American
Physical Society, and Chiang Mai University fsschlachter@lbl.gov
* Co-author of Energy Future: Think Efficiency. How America can look within to
achieve energy security and reduce global warming. American Physical Society (September 2008).
