Title: Global Change and Energy Crisis: Analyses and Solutions Speaker: Professor Frank Shu (UC San Diego) Professor Shu is a renowned astrophysicist world wide. His outstanding academic and research record has won him numerous awards and honors. He is also a fellow of National Academy of Science of the US and Academia Sinica of Taiwan. This Friday he will give his insight into the issue facing this generation of mankind. So please mark your calendar and remember to join the event! Time : 8/8 Friday 2pm Location: NTU Physics Building Room 104 Abstract: We analyze the implications of the recent G8 targets on the reductions in carbon dioxide emissions for 2050 in terms of the changes needed in global and local energy usage. We then review in a first principles manner the physics behind biofuels, photovoltaics, wind, surf, geothermal, tides, hydroelectric, nuclear fission, and nuclear fusion as alternative energy sources to fossil fuels. We demonstrate why only an aggressive expansion of nuclear power plants can meet the 2050 G8 goal, although photovoltaics holds promise as a long-term resource if costs can be driven down enough so that their installation on a large scale does not eat up almost half of worldwide GDP. Even if cost were not a factor, land use dictates that nuclear power is the only viable, carbon-friendly, choice possible for Taiwan. We analyze the plan put forward by Greenpeace and the European Renewable Energy Council and show that the use of only renewable energy sources to meet the G8 goal would cause massive harm to the natural environment and still be unresponsive to the economic aspirations of developing nations. We present new ideas in nuclear power technology that can address legitimate concerns about its cost, safety, waste, and potential for weapons proliferation. We summarize by giving a coherent energy strategy that can appeal to developed and developing nations alike, but that requires environmentalists and nuclear activists to work together for a safer and healthier world. --

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