Series 4, Issue 12
The week of August 10, 2020
The week of August 10, 2020
Lately, it might feel like humankind is running at full speed to stand-still: the coronavirus lingers; pivotal national elections are still a little too far away to matter; the economy is relentlessly stuck and stagnate. And yet, change is coming. It’s in the air. Perhaps more for energy than any other sector. For example, BP is considering a seismic shift away from oil and gas, Alphabet (aka Google) just issued $5.75 billion in sustainability bonds (the largest corporate issue to date), and energy professionals seem to have a new appetite for all things hydrogen.
Vinod Khosla, one of the authors featured in this issue, embraces it: “Change depends on unreasonable people who have courage, ignore conventional wisdom and thrive on risk.” But embracing change is not always easy, and not necessarily always a good thing, either.
This issue of Energy Today highlights forward-thinkers who imagine changes to embrace. Three articles call for governments and the private sector to take risks, to embrace new energy models, to fund new energy research, and to commit to a more ambitious energy transition. A final article looks backward to note that change is inextricably linked with time—change without context is chaos. This special article highlights the work of geologist and oceanographer Marie Tharp, who created the world’s first ocean topography maps, leading to a paradigm shift that changed the way we see two-thirds of the Earth. Her maps continue to be used today; none other than Google Ocean features the Marie Tharp Historical Map.
Vinod Khosla, one of the authors featured in this issue, embraces it: “Change depends on unreasonable people who have courage, ignore conventional wisdom and thrive on risk.” But embracing change is not always easy, and not necessarily always a good thing, either.
This issue of Energy Today highlights forward-thinkers who imagine changes to embrace. Three articles call for governments and the private sector to take risks, to embrace new energy models, to fund new energy research, and to commit to a more ambitious energy transition. A final article looks backward to note that change is inextricably linked with time—change without context is chaos. This special article highlights the work of geologist and oceanographer Marie Tharp, who created the world’s first ocean topography maps, leading to a paradigm shift that changed the way we see two-thirds of the Earth. Her maps continue to be used today; none other than Google Ocean features the Marie Tharp Historical Map.
Table of Contents
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Instigators: Critical Breakthroughs Are Desperately Needed by Vinod Khosla A dozen instigators driven by entrepreneurial energy and passion for a vision — and a little bit of luck — could change the climate crisis and lead to societal transformation. |
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How the U.S. Lost Its Way On Innovation by Ilan Gur The world has changed dramatically since World War II, yet the United States is largely working off the same old science policy playbook. |
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Energy Transition as the Third Rail by Robert Cunningham Discussions around a carbon-neutral energy transition are perceived as an indictment of one's values, choices, and way of life. Is it any wonder then that it evokes such a visceral response? |
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Mapping the Bottom of the Sea — the Earth's Last Frontier by Suzanne OConnell Marie Tharp pioneered mapping the bottom of the ocean six decades ago — and scientists are still learning about the Earth's last frontier. |
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Join American Energy Society in watching Switch On, a documentary film shining a light on energy poverty. Across developing Africa, Asia and Latin America, billions of people suffer from the lack of safe and reliable energy — impacting literacy and education, water and food supply, communication, healthcare, and the economy. Join Dr. Scott Tinker on a global adventure to meet the leaders, entrepreneurs and everyday citizens that are standing up to bring power to their people. Here is the short trailer.
