Save the Date: VCASE Lecture Series: 11/6
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: November6th, CEER 312, 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm.
The talk will be recorded. To watch it live, click here!