VCASE is proud to host the upcoming lecture
series, “Our Energy Future,” by Robert Ehrlich,
PhD; recently retired Professor at George Mason
University.
Although the consensus of climate scientists is that
a significant fraction of global warming is human-caused, there is a
rising level of public polarization about the matter. Here I will discuss
several reasons for this divide, and how clean energy, possibly including
nuclear, can be the bridge across the political chasm to deal with the
matter in a way that is sound both politically and technologically. We
will also discuss other reasons besides climate change to move away
from fossil fuels, and the advantages and drawbacks of renewable
energy. Finally, we address some comments to students why they should
consider entering the field as well as to faculty so as to promote support
for an undergraduate minor in renewable energy.
Speaker Bio
Robert Ehrlich, Ph.D. is a recently retired Physics professor at George
Mason University. His current research interest is in finding evidence for
the reality of faster-than-light particles. He is also interested in
renewable energy, and promoting renewable energy education. He is the
author of the recently released junior level book titled - Renewable
Energy: A First Course.
His first research work as a graduate student was to participate in the
Nobel-prize winning “two neutrino experiment” under his advisor Jack
Steinberger. His particle physics research since then mostly involved the
analysis of elementary particle physics experiments. Some examples of
specific accomplishments include: (a) development of a new method of
identifying elementary particle reactions, (b) search for evidence of free
quark production in particle reactions, (c) search for double beta decay
reaction, (d) search for evidence of quantization of time in particle
physics, and (e) analysis of solar neutrino experiment in light of neutrino
oscillation hypothesis. His most recent particle physics work in the late
1990’s and early 2000’s involved looking at possible evidence for
neutrinos being tachyons.
During the 1980’s, Dr. Ehrlich explored national policies on nuclear
weapons, the effects of nuclear weapons ("nuclear winter"), and the role
of nuclear war education at the university level and initiated and
organized three national conferences on nuclear war and peace
education. Some fairly recent research interests include a study of how
humans extrapolate motion, and a new theory involving the cause of
quasiperiodic glaciations involving solar diffusion waves. Dr. Ehrlich
also continues to be interested in writing science for a broad audience,
and studying physics education methods, and has written or edited 20
books on various subjects.
Location: November 6th, CEER 312, 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm.
The talk will be recorded. To watch it live, click here!