By watching ‘An Inconvenient Truth’, my awareness of global warming was reinforced and I realized that the actions must be taken against the effects of global warming either by governments or individuals. On January 30th lecture, there were three experts in the area of global warming gave us three presentations which focus on carbon dioxide, social science systems approach and difficulties in dealing with global warming. The following is a brief summary of the ideas of the presentation.
The first speaker, Professor Adam Palmer, focused on effects of carbon dioxide in global warming and the technology on capture and storage of carbon dioxide. First Prof. Palmer used several slides to explain how carbon dioxide affects climate and the trend of climate change on earth if human do not take actions against the emission of carbon dioxide. Next, he mainly concentrated on introducing the technology of capturing and storing carbon dioxide. The method is to pump CO2 into sea and store it in a membrane bag which can prevent CO2 diffusing into the sea and acidifying the sea to affect marine life. But, unfortunately whether to implement this technology is decided by politics who are only interested in short-term goals.
The next speaker was Associate Professor Benjamin K. Sovacool from Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Police. He mention that how to use Science & Technology System (STS) to address energy problem. First he elaborated four determinisms, structural, autonomous, consequential and normative determinism. After that, he went on talk about how social factors affect the development or implementation of a new technology. For example, US people protested against their first nuclear power plant reactor. From Prof. Sovacool’s presentation, social factors also can affect dealing with global warming.
The last speaker was Dr. Rajasekhar Bala. His speech was mainly focused on the effects of greenhouse gases such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. Next Dr. Bala talked about what we can do about global warming. For instance, we can increase energy efficiency, rely on renewable energy resources and reduce emission of greenhouse gases. At end of his speech, he mentioned about the difficulties encountered in fighting against global warming. For example, global warming is global problem which needs worldwide cooperation to deal with.
With the experts’ presentation, I believe that everyone has realize how important to fight against global warming. I hope everyone can play a role in contributing to protect our planet and saving our planet from suffering global warming.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
After watching the 'An Inconvenient Truth'
Today, Global Warming has become one of the most serious environmental problems encountered by all over the world. Frequent disasters caused by Global Warming, happening in every year are telling us that the human being must pay attention to this problem while we are intently concentrating on developments of national industry and economy. In ‘An Inconvenient Truth’, American ex-vice-president Mr. Al Gore shows several serious natural issues caused by Global Warming with statistical proof. His point of view is to raise awareness of public to let them know how serious the consequences of Global Warming are. Mr.AL Gore wants the governments around the world that contribute to the global warming to take action to slow down the global climatic deterioration by their policies and public education.
To reduce the effects of global warming the governments must play a very important role in coming up with policies to limit the emission of greenhouse gases. As we know, the emission of greenhouse gases is a major cause of the global warming; the policies can be used to restrict the factories’ emission of greenhouse. For instance, in China, there is no limit to emission of greenhouse gases in a lot of companies and factories as they only focus on profits and neglect environment. According to the latest environmental report, China has become a country that emits the most greenhouse gases all over the world. Therefore, the policies are really helpful for China government to monitor their companies or factories on environmental issues. Only with these policies, the effects of global warming could be reduced.
Beside the policies, the public education on global warming is also very important for every government. Though the public education, people can realize what effects of global warming are and how serious it impacts the future of human being. Nowadays, in some developed countries, more and more people have realized their role in protecting environment through their public education on environment. For example, in United States, Japan and some European countries, many people use solar water heater instead of traditional gas or electrical water heater, the energy of cars are no longer petrol and is replace by clean energy like ox hydrogen battery. So the education and public awareness are very helpful for reduce global warming.
As we have known the effects of global warming, the governments around the world should enact more policies or law to protect the environment and raise the public awareness of global warming if we don’t want our children to suffer from climate change.
To reduce the effects of global warming the governments must play a very important role in coming up with policies to limit the emission of greenhouse gases. As we know, the emission of greenhouse gases is a major cause of the global warming; the policies can be used to restrict the factories’ emission of greenhouse. For instance, in China, there is no limit to emission of greenhouse gases in a lot of companies and factories as they only focus on profits and neglect environment. According to the latest environmental report, China has become a country that emits the most greenhouse gases all over the world. Therefore, the policies are really helpful for China government to monitor their companies or factories on environmental issues. Only with these policies, the effects of global warming could be reduced.
Beside the policies, the public education on global warming is also very important for every government. Though the public education, people can realize what effects of global warming are and how serious it impacts the future of human being. Nowadays, in some developed countries, more and more people have realized their role in protecting environment through their public education on environment. For example, in United States, Japan and some European countries, many people use solar water heater instead of traditional gas or electrical water heater, the energy of cars are no longer petrol and is replace by clean energy like ox hydrogen battery. So the education and public awareness are very helpful for reduce global warming.
As we have known the effects of global warming, the governments around the world should enact more policies or law to protect the environment and raise the public awareness of global warming if we don’t want our children to suffer from climate change.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Blog 1
Nowadays, engineers are no longer thought as the specialists in the fields of making cars, constructing buildings and so on, but are thought as people who can help to systematically analyze complex or cross-disciplinary information and apply knowledge to come out solutions in areas of running transportation system, managing efficient distribution of energy supplies and so on. This is because of that now engineers are educated or trained by the programs which are not only concentrating on students’ majors. Today’s universities are more focusing on the skills of applying their knowledge to solve complex problems systematically. Therefore, with the systematic diversified training, engineers can apply them to accomplish those complex projects mentioned above by applying what they learned in university.
Generally, engineers are trained that, first of all, they must analyze problem carefully and systematically to have overall picture about the problem when they are assigned to a project. Secondly, engineers have to redefine the problem to make it less ambiguous. Then, once have a clear understanding of the problem, engineers need to generate a list of specifications that will establish the solutions. Next, the alternative solutions should be identified to ensure that there will be another solution if the first or second solutions are failed. At this time, engineers can start solving the problem step by step. During the solving process, engineers still need to continue redefining the problem, adding specifications and generating alternative solutions, reiterate this process until the problem is perfectly solved.
In conclusion, with systematically analyzing complex information and applying a holistic approach in designing solutions, today’s engineers can accomplish various complicated assignments or project with their excellent skills.
Generally, engineers are trained that, first of all, they must analyze problem carefully and systematically to have overall picture about the problem when they are assigned to a project. Secondly, engineers have to redefine the problem to make it less ambiguous. Then, once have a clear understanding of the problem, engineers need to generate a list of specifications that will establish the solutions. Next, the alternative solutions should be identified to ensure that there will be another solution if the first or second solutions are failed. At this time, engineers can start solving the problem step by step. During the solving process, engineers still need to continue redefining the problem, adding specifications and generating alternative solutions, reiterate this process until the problem is perfectly solved.
In conclusion, with systematically analyzing complex information and applying a holistic approach in designing solutions, today’s engineers can accomplish various complicated assignments or project with their excellent skills.
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