Working on Environmental Chemistry Research in the U.S. - The Framework and it’s Implications for Society
As an environmental geochemist working in the U.S., I have been investigating the impacts of climate change and energy production on the environment for over 22 years.
In this seminar, I will provide a brief overview of how the U.S. Department of Energy provides much of the needed infrastructure and funding to support this research. Over the years, I have come to the conclusion that all forms of energy production lead to environmental impacts on the global or local scale. In addition, the types and levels of impacts are often largely dependent on the local environments, and the technical details of the application. Finally, given the inherent complexities of natural and engineered systems, and the inter-dependence of many variables, the change in one parameter can have a series of positive and/or negative consequences. I will illustrate these points with examples from my research, covering deep subsurface CO2 sequestration, hydraulic fracturing and nuclear waste management.
My talk emphasizes the importance of educating the public to ensure a broad understanding of the principles of scientific research and the consequences of an individual’s own actions. Scientific education of the public needs to become a key aspect to be addressed as part of climate-mitigation strategies.
The lecture will be held in English.