July 9th, 2009 — 1:42pm
Hi Everyone,
I know many of you are wondering what will happen to the movement of ISES in the future. Here is an update to keep you all in the loop. Keep talking and exchanging ideas, remember that’s what this is all about!
1) Website
The website currently looks like it did before the event but there will be two main changes made by the end of July.
- Speaker material and presentation will be available to delegates (with the password that was distributed in the follow up email) on July 13, 2009.
- The post-conference site will go live July 31, 2009 with more information on the movement, pictures of the event and with updates ont he future of ISES
2) Publication
The full ISES publication is set to be released August 20, 2009. The publication will have over 50 pages of information about students in energy and will act as a platform for keeping the movement alive. All delegates will receive an electronic copy to show to colleagues and spread the momentum. There will be a two page spread summarizing the ISES publication in the October Edition of Oil and Gas Magazine. Stay tuned for more details.
3) Next Conference
The next ISES will occur within two years. We have a lead on the next location but are still finalizing details, the moment it is for sure you will all know!!
Don’t forget to write on the blog, facebook group and to keep checking the website for updates.
Kali
Comment » | International Student Energy Summit
June 24th, 2009 — 11:15am
Dear ISES delegates,
The Summit has ended; ideas have been shared, inspiration was found, knowledge was obtained, a will to bring change was created. However, as you will all agree with, the challenge has not started yet. We can attend as many interesting lectures as we want, in the end we are the ones that need to make the change happen outside the walls of the Convention Center. Also, you will all realize that the momentum that was gained during the conference is what has to be maintained in order for our ideas to be transformed into action in real-time. This problem was already addressed at the summit itself.
What are your ideas about how to maintain this momentum? Is simply adding each other on facebook enough to ensure this, or is this only a nice way to exchange pictures taken during the event? If the latter is the case, I’m afraid the common mindset we had during and after the conference will be lost as we ‘go back to’ our daily lives. Should ISES create an incentive for students to keep working on improving the situation as we currently know it? Or is consequent action a natural matter? From personal experience, I would say it isn’t.
I would like to know what you think about how to keep focused on the problem ahead of us. Does the organization of the event have any ideas about this?
- Timon
2 comments » | Uncategorized
June 24th, 2009 — 9:49am
As I mentioned serveral times throughout the conference, it was important to the planning committee that our sponsors reflect our goals and vision. I was browsing around I found a few interesting initiatives thata few of our sponsors are currently undertaking - thought you may be interested in.
Kali
Continue reading »
Comment » | International Student Energy Summit
June 23rd, 2009 — 2:07pm
Last week I had the opportunity to hear T. Boone Pickens speak about “Pickens Plan” and the future of American energy. Overall, I think that the plan has some good points, however I think that he has put two buzz topics (renewable power generation and US energy security) together to try and get more people to buy in. The real premise behind the plan is Natural Gas and it appears that wind is simply an instrument to persuade more people to join the cause. I have compiled a recap of the talk and some of my opions on the plan and welcome any feedback you may have.
To read the plan check out the following link: www.pickensplan.com.
Continue reading »
3 comments » | Uncategorized
June 23rd, 2009 — 1:42pm
Now that the conference is done, the blog is a great way to keep the dialogue between students going. There are a couple things you should know about the ISES blog:
1) When you sign up you are a “contributor” which means you can comment but not submit your own articles. Those of you who would like to become an “author” please email info@studentenergy.org and you will be given the proper permissions.
2) Sometimes we get spam but the admin deletes them every day. If you are receiving spam comments to your email please email info@studentenergy.org so we can fix the setting.
KEEP TALKING! The movement has started 
Comment » | Uncategorized
May 25th, 2009 — 12:58pm
Nuclear security remains as the sore point for advocates of the ‘fuel of the future’; these developing events will undoubtedly remain in news headlines and have already started to created ripples around the world in capital markets. -S. Butler
World unites to condemn North Korea nuclear test
The world has united in condemnation of North Korea after the rogue Communist state tested a second nuclear weapon in defiance of UN resolutions.
By Peter Foster in Beijing and Malcolm Moore in Seoul
Last Updated: 8:26PM BST 25 May 2009
The test, which comes after six months of escalating diplomatic tensions on the Korean peninsular, led to renewed US calls for tough international action against the regime of the ailing dictator Kim Jong-il.
US President Barack Obama accused Pyongyang of “directly and recklessly challenging the international community” and seeking to undermine stability in the region.
Continue reading »
2 comments » | Uncategorized
May 24th, 2009 — 9:21pm
After project funding was cut for the FutureGen Project in the United States under Energy Secretary Bodman, announcements were made earlier this week that Steven Chu was looking to start the discussion once again on this truly amazing project.
The FutureGen Alliance is a large consortium of power producers around the world whom have been working for years to finalize the details on what would become the first commercially scaled carbon free coal fired generation facility. The project is located in Mattoon, IL and would sequester the CO2 captured on site for long term storage. In addition to this, the producers are now looking at the option of potentially shipping the CO2 via pipeline to low producing oil fields for enhanced oil recovery.
Although there are some major opponents to coal out there these days - if this facility were to produce its projected 275MW and be able to sequester the CO2 for long term storage I would be pretty in favor of pushing for increased generation from coal (with capture) simply due to the vast resource base in the United States and around the world. The EIA has put R/P are more than 137 years for the world and which would allow for further investment in alternative technologies to bring them on par with production with coal and NG.
That being said I am not saying that coal would become that holy grail if we were to find out a way to caputre the co2 for storage however I think society would be more prone to adopting more coal quickly.
Comments / Thoughts?
Mark Blackwell
Comment » | Recent Energy Issues
April 8th, 2009 — 2:29pm
Hello All,
I hope that everyone is getting pumped about ISES as much as I am - there is some great momentum leading up to this date and I cannot tell you how pumped I am to meet each and everyone of you.
I want to create a scenario for you all and get some feedback and discussion started around major developments that will be taking place in the energy realm for the next 50 years. I want you to imagine that you are Warren Buffet’s only dependent of whom he wishes to hand over his ~65 billion dollar net worth with one stipulation on the spending of that money. Warren tells you that you can only spend the money on developing and enhancing ONE energy technology / source that you see the most hope and potential for. You are extremely frustrated with the stipulation on the money because you full well know that an energy mix is needed in coming years - however must make a decision around which technology to invest the money into.
I have found two extremely interesting reports for my two energy bets however don’t limit yourself to exploring or arguing for either of these. I have really gone out on a limb with both of these technologies as they are currently in there infancy however if developed could revolutionize the way the world thinks about energy.
1) Enhanced Geothermal (http://geothermal.inel.gov/publications/future_of_geothermal_energy.pdf)
2) Nuclear Fusion (http://www.ofes.fusion.doe.gov/more_html/SEAB.pdf)
There are other major breakthrough technologies such as: Smart Grid System, Clean Coal Technology, Carbon Capture and Storage and PV that would entirely alter the energy industry however its up to you to make the choice which one you want to unload all your eggs into.
The challenge is your!
Mark
2 comments » | Uncategorized
April 5th, 2009 — 11:09pm
One thing that we will be focusing on at the International Student Energy Summit is how important it is that energy stakeholders work together and communicate to come up with systemic solutions. I wanted to throw out one question for everyone on the blog…
Who is the most important energy stakeholder? Although I am sure most would argue all have to take some initiative, if you had to choose which would you choose. Here is some food for thought to start discussing…
Industry (Producers)
- Should producers of energy being taking the first step to be more sustainable? What if it has harsh effects on the bottom line and jeopardizes their existence (as in they may no longer be profitable)?
Government
- Everyone must abide by legislation so should it be the government’s role to ensure sustainability? Governments represent many varying opinions and interests how do they manage this responsibly?
Consumers
- If everyone did their part it could go a long way. Is there any way to ensure this happens? How do consumers ensure that they have accurate and complete information to base decisions on?
Academia
- Knowledge is power, but research takes money. Where does this come from? Is it the key to a sustainable future?
Comment » | Global Energy Cooperation
March 30th, 2009 — 9:20am
Today myself and Rod, the Technology and Innovation Lead, were promoting ISES at a table in one of the main spots on campus. One student looked interested so I started telling him about the event, he walked away hurriedly commenting…
“Energy is the cause of all major wars…”
Not saying he is right or wrong… however between resources and religion I am sure the root cause of all wars could be identified if you looked hard enough.
What do you think??
Kali
6 comments » | Global Energy Cooperation
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