Environment

February 11, 2009 lecture by Jefferson Tester for the Woods Energy Seminar (ENERGY301). In his talk “A Pathway for Widespread Utilization of Geothermal Energy–the Roles of Multi-scale Resource and Technology Research and Systems Analysis,” Tester talks about the benefits and challenges of harnessing geothermal energy, and he asserts that it is a large resource that complements solar and wind energy and is both carbon free and scalable.

The Woods Energy Seminar is an interdisciplinary series of talks primarily by Stanford experts on a broad range of energy topics. Jefferson Tester is the David Croll Chair for Sustainable Energy Systems and Associate Director for the Cornell Center for a Sustainable Future in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Cornell University.

Woods Institute for the Environment
http://woods.stanford.edu/

Stanford Channel on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/stanford

Duration : 0:58:17

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Kevin Montgomery [CEO, Intelesense Technologies]
Abstract:
Never before in the history of mankind has our ability to acquire data about our planet and its inhabitants been so prolific. Data from in-situ sensors deployed worldwide, human-generated data (surveys, land use patterns, etc), and satellite imagery and remote sensing data have produced an enormous amount of information totaling in the hundreds of gigabytes per day. This data, coupled with the broad ubiquity of the Internet has led to an unprecedented wealth of information available at every desktop. However, while each group or project may be an expert in their own area of focus and thus develop data and knowledge in their field, the environment is inherently integrated with the climate effecting the soil and oceans, the plants and animals reacting to their ecological context, and all related to a humankind that is both affected by, as well as an agent of change, of their environment. What if it were possible to integrate all the information that has ever been collected and to make it freely and easily available, within an environment that allowed one to browse this information regardless of source or format, integrate it across all fields of study and to visualize it interactively, collaboratively, quickly and easily? Such a tool could allow the climatologist to examine their interrelation with the biologist, ecologist, and other environmental researchers, as well as the epidemiologist and others related to humankind.

Biography:
Dr. Kevin Montgomery is the Chief Executive Officer of Intelesense Technologies. He is also the Technical Director of the National Biocomputation Center at Stanford University, where his team develops advanced technologies in medicine for NASA, DoD, NIH, and other clients. Dr Montgomery is a veteran of multiple startups, earned a Smithsonian Award in telemedicine, serves as a technical advisor to the DoD, and holds a Ph.D. in Computer Engineering from the University of California. He has 18 years of technical experience and 15 years of management experience leading high-performance teams in academia, government, and industry.

Duration : 0:44:11

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Wind As An Energy Alternative / Educational video. Department of Energy. Produce by the Solar Energy Research Institute. Wind: An Energy Alternative. This program looks at the history and uses of wind power, used for centuries by humans to move boats, pump water and grind grain including discussions on efficiency, problems in the urban environment, experimental systems and windmill use across the United States. Producer: Department of Energy. Creative Commons license: Public Domain.

Surprisingly good short film about wind energy. What makes it valuable is the interviews with Marcellus Jacobs (a builder of wind turbines in the 1930s) and Ted Finch (whose efforts got the concept of net metering legally acceptable in the US). It’s interesting to note that one of the people listed in the credits, Paul Gipe, is still active in the industry. He’s now a leading author on the subject. His website is http://www.wind-works.org

Duration : 0:12:17

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Groundbreaking research released from FM Global and the nonprofit Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition finds sprinklers protect the environment in addition to preventing property loss and saving lives.

Duration : 0:3:46

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Stanford’s Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Environment and Resources (IPER) program lets students combine multiple fields of study to tackle complex environmental challenges. Professor Gretchen Daily and three IPER students talk about how they are applying interdisciplinary perspectives toward solving problems in climate change, marine ecology, and urban water. Recorded 2007.

Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Environment and
Resources (IPER): http://iper.stanford.edu/

The Stanford Challenge: http://thestanfordchallenge.stanford.edu/

Stanford University Channel on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/stanford

Duration : 0:4:52

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(October 21, 2009) Craig Criddle, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Stanford, presents current research into biotechnology solutions for clean drinking water in the developing world, low-carbon energy sources and sustainable building materials conducted with the financial support of the Woods Institute.

Stanford University
http://www.stanford.edu

Woods Institute for the Environment
http://woods.stanford.edu

Craig Criddle’s Research Page
http://www.stanford.edu/group/evpilot/

Woods Institute Fifth Anniversary Symposium
http://woods.stanford.edu/ideas/anniversary-symposium.html

Stanford University Channel on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/stanford

Duration : 0:12:44

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Scientists find that air pollution is even worse for you than previously thought. As this ScienCentral News video explains, new research shows how tiny particles from vehicle emissions can cause heart disease and other problems.

Duration : 0:1:50

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Global Environmental Strategies from the Asia-Pacific Region

The Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), established by an initiative of the Japanese Government in 1998, is a research institute that conducts pragmatic and innovative strategic policy research to support sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region.

While the Asia-Pacific region is experiencing rapid economic growth and extensive urbanisation together with continued population increase, the region is still facing the issue of poverty. Efforts towards regional economic integration bring with them opportunities for further economic progress and poverty reduction but at the same time, there is concern that this will greatly increase the impact on natural resources and the environment through forest degradation, air and water pollution and an increase in waste generation. Climate change, the most urgent issue facing the world today, also presents the region with challenges: the region is one of the major sources of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and it is also likely to be affected by the severe impact of global warming on regional economies, society and the lives of ordinary citizens.

In the face of mounting challenges, the mission of IGES is to create effective strategies and propose practical solutions to support sustainable development, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, while looking ahead 50 or even 100 years into the future. Expectations and requests are increasing that the Asia-Pacific region plays an important role in international efforts to deal with climate change and other critical environmental issues. It is vital to carry out appropriate policy proposals based on conditions in each area of the region, which is characterised by diversities in terms of economy, politics, culture and natural environment.

IGES will enhance collaborations with a broad range of stakeholders such as national governments, local authorities, businesses, non-governmental organisations, citizens and experts, to carry out strategic policy research from an Asia-Pacific perspective and to disseminate the results around the world, so that it can contribute to the transition towards a sustainable society.

IGES official website
http://www.iges.or.jp/

Duration : 0:5:18

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CIFORVideohttp://gdata.youtube.com/feeds/api/users/ciforvideoTechForestry, Research, Environmental Services, Climate Change, PovertySven Wunder on Payment for Environmental Services

Duration : 0:8:23

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