Energy: myths and realities

por Prof. Vaclav Smil (University of Manitoba, Winnipeg (Canada))

viernes 11 feb. 2011 12:00 → 13:00 Europe/Madrid

Salón de actos (Parc Científic)

Like every society in the past, modern society believes in fairy tales. These include the inminent advent of the electric card, the just-around-the-corner hydrogen economy, and the inconditional faith in non-fossil fuel sources --be them renewable or nuclear--, but also die-hard missunderstandings such as: \"efficieny equals less consumption\", or, \"the problem can be solved if we all do a little\". Energy myths also include doomsday visions such as oil peak and conspiration theories, and at the same time they spell out our faith in miracles (nuclear fusion). Interestingly, every one, from the lay man to the shrewed politican believes in one or another forms of this modern folcklore. In this talk, Professor Vaclav Smil will apply his well know recipe of knowledge, skepticism and common sense, to critically review some of these cherished myths.