Instructions and suggestions for the presentation "The Global
Energy Challenge"
The presentation "The Global Energy Challenge" serves to make the point
that energy is one of the major issues of our times. I developed this
presentation while working for the Global Climate and Energy Project
at Stanford University. You are free
to use this presentation or education and outreach, and should feel
free to modify it.
I am continuously improving this presentation. Click here
to download the latest version. The URL is http://www.mines.edu/~rsnieder/Global_Energy.ppt
Here are some tips for presenting this material:
1) In its present form, there is too much material for a single
presentation of about 45 minutes. You will need to delete material. For
most general audiences the story of the seven wedges is too
complicated.
2) It is important to be positive. I started out as the
doomsday-prophet when giving earlier versions of this lecture. This is
not effective; people go in instant denial and turn themselves away.
Also, it is important to empower people to make a difference. Let the
emphasis be on challenges and opportunities, and give people ideas what
they can do. Once they get involved doing some small things, they will
discover other ways to make a difference.
3) I made notes in the powerpoint presentation that may help speakers
see the narrative of this presentation. Take a look at these notes,
because the slides alone may not contain enough clues what the
narrative is. (This is where you are needed in your role of speaker.)
The presentation is aimed at a general audience. Here are my
experiences and ideas seeking a venue for this presentation.
1) I have given the presentation to Rotary Clubs. There are, of course
others civic societies. Here are websites with club locators for the
Rotary and Kiwani's:
http://www.rotary.org/en/AboutUs/SiteTools/ClubLocator/Pages/ridefault.aspx
http://www.kiwanis.org/FindaClub/tabid/84/Default.aspx
To be honest, just approaching clubs has not been very fruitful. Using
personal contacts is the most effective way to set up lectures. There
are, of course, many other groups where you could give your
presentation (local libraries, church, home-owners association,
girl(boy)-scouts, etc.).
2) High school teachers are easy to interest in this material, but they
face the problem that they often have to teach in lockstep, and are
overwhelmed with everything they need to do. Identifying the teacher
that is truly motivated is the most important ingredient to success for
delivering this material at high-schools.
3) I have had good experiences teaching at community colleges. This is
a great way to reach large groups of students. Teachers of
general science classes are often grateful when I take a class off
their hands, and since the topic interests them they are interested to
have this material presented in their class.
4) When you teach at a university, don't forget your own students. This
is a great topic for a general science class, a earth-system class, or
a departmental seminar.
There is a wealth of information on energy available on the internet. I
have created a website with links to sources that I found particularly
interesting or useful. You can access this information from:
http://www.mines.edu/~rsnieder/Energy_resources.html
I am passionate about this topic, and want to make this material
available to large groups of people. Please let me know if you would
like me to present this material in your department/company/institute;
I am happy to tell my story and motivate others to join this effort.
As you are giving this seminar, you will discover weak points, and are
likely to have interesting ideas for improving it. I value any type of
feedback that you may have. I am also interested in ways you may see to
engage colleagues and professional societies to help deliver this
lecture.
Roel Snieder
W.M. Keck Distinguished Professor of Basic Exploration Science
Colorado School of Mines
1500 Illinois Street
Golden, CO 80401-1887
USA
tel. +1.303.273.3456
fax +1.303.273.3478
email rsnieder@mines.edu
http://www.mines.edu/~rsnieder