Chemical Engineering 24, Section 1
Foundations of our Empire: Energy and Water (1 unit, P/NP)
Professor Jeffrey Reimer
Monday 4:00-5:00, 121 Latimer Hall, CCN: 10553

Cheap energy and abundant high purity water have been the mainstay of American life for decades. Their availability have made deserts into croplands and cities, and helped build an industrial empire that dominates world markets. An increasing number of scientists and policy analysts, however, are concerned about the future reliability of these resources. Join this seminar and engage in a series of readings and discussions about our energy and water budget, including the triumphalism of science and engineering, and the sobering reality of a world with 9 billion people. What is the problem with carbon? Are we supposed to buy electric cars? Will the hydrogen economy work? Don't we have enough water in the oceans? We seek answers to these and other questions. Non-technical majors are especially welcome.

Jeffrey A. Reimer is the Warren and Katharine Schlinger Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering. In 1998 he won the Donald Sterling Noyce Prize for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching in the Physical Sciences, and was given the AIChE Northern California Section Award for Chemical Engineering Excellence in Academic Teaching. In 2000 he was awarded the Chemical Engineering Departmental Outstanding Teaching Award. In 2003 Professor Reimer was awarded the Distinguished Teaching Award, the highest award bestowed on faculty for their teaching. For more information regarding Professor Reimer, please visit his faculty web page at http://india.cchem.berkeley.edu/~reimer/.