Second Conference on the Physics of Sustainable Energy: Efficiency and Renewables

A popular energy workshop is making a repeat performance. The first go-round was a conference on the physics of sustainable energy held at the University of California, Berkeley in March 2008, and the proceedings were published as #1044 in the AIP Conference Series. (For a review of the proceedings, see Physics & Society, July 2009, pg. 22.) In response to the positive enthusiasm about the conference, a second one is being held, again at UC Berkeley, on March 5-6, 2011 under the sponsorship of the APS Forum on Physics and Society, the APS Topical Group on Energy Research and Applications, and the American Association of Physics Teachers. International experts will give the technical background to understand the issues connected with using energy more efficiently and producing it renewably.

The event sold out last time, so we recommend signing up in advance. The cost is $100 for 24 talks, a 400-page book and 2 lunches. The student rate is $80. An additional $35 is being charged to attend the banquet at the Berkeley Faculty Club. The event is being organized by Dave Hafemeister, Barbara Levi, Dan Kammen and Peter Schwartz. Registration is expected to commence in mid-October. For further information, contact Dave Hafemeister at dhafemei@calpoly.edu.

Saturday, March 5

Energy Policy
CA State Policy, Dian Grueneich (CA PUC Commissioner, tentative acceptance)
Science and Policy Innovations for a Low-Carbon Economy, Dan Kammen (UC Berkeley)
Energy in the Developing World, Ashok Gadgil (LBL)
Energy and Water Connection, Michael Webber (Univ. Texas)

Environmental Effects of Fossil Fuels
NAS Study, Hidden Environmental Costs of Fossil Energy, Chris Field (Carnegie Inst., Washington)
Studying the Causes of Recent Climate Change, Benjamin Santer (LLNL)
Non-Carbon Greenhouse Gasses, Katey Anthony (U. Alaska)
Global Circulation Models, Inez Fung (UC Berkeley)
Carbon Sequestration, Julio Friedmann (LLNL)

Decarbonizing Transportation
Transportation Mode Switching, Betty Deakin (UC Berkeley)
Electric Cars: Hybrids/PHEV/BEV, Dan Sperling (Inst. Transportation Studies, UC Davis)
Low Carbon Transportation of People and Products (Dan Kammen, UC Berkeley)

Banquet Speaker Energy Efficiency (1970 to 2030): From Sustainability to Carbon Taxes, Art Rosenfeld (former CEC Commissioner)

Sunday, March 6

Enhanced Efficiency Building
Energy Efficient Buildings, David Claridge (Texas A&M)
Energy Simulation Tools for Buildings, Phil Haves (LBL)
Smart Buildings Using Demand Response, Mary Ann Piette (LBL)
Appliance and Lighting Energy Standards, Greg Rosenquist (LBL)

Renewable Energy
NAS 2009 Study on Electricity from Renewable Resources, John Holmes (NAS)
Smart Grid APS/POPA Study, George Crabtree (ANL)
Offshore Wind, Walter Musial (NREL)
Polymer and Thin Film Photovoltaics, Alan Heeger (UCSB)
Photovoltaic Roof Systems, Kelly Truman (Solyndra)
Photovoltaic Concentrator Systems, Steve Horne (Sol Focus)
Small Reactors and Nuclear Waste, Bob Budnitz (LBL)

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These contributions have not been peer-refereed. They represent solely the view(s) of the author(s) and not necessarily the view of APS.