Technological Fix 2. What is the role of technology in the management of the contested planet ? a) The impacts of intermediate / appropriate technology with hi-tech megaprojects

1
Technological Fix2. What is the role of
technology in the management of the contested
planet ? a) The impacts of intermediate /
appropriate technology with hi-tech megaprojects
b) Role of technology in global issues c)
Chances of technology contributing to a more
environmentally sustainable future d) The
technological future convergence or divergence?

• Learning Objectives
• Realise that some technological fixes may not be
  feasible or desirable
• Identify how technology has the potential to fix
  major environmental problems

2
Starter Virgin Earth Challenge Prize!

• Sir Richard Branson and Al Gore have launched a
  prize offering a 25 million reward for the best
  idea to remove 1 billion tons of CO2 from the
  atmosphere each year
• Can you come up with an technological solutions?

3
The squared-off contours of the boxfish reduce
drag and help the fish swim up to six body
lengths per second.
Bio-Engineering
4
(No Transcript)
5
Mercedes-Benz bionic concept car. Its
streamlined body inspired by the boxfish helps to
boost its fuel efficiency to around 70miles per
gallon, thus helping to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions.
6
The thorny devil lizard lives in the arid deserts
of Australia. The lizard is able to absorb water
through its feet and then direct water towards
its mouth via channels between its scales.
7
By carrying out experiments to better understand
how this process works, scientists can then
invent thorny-devil-inspired devices to help
people collect lifesaving water in areas of the
world where water is scarce.
8
The flipper of the humpback whale has nodules on
the leading edge giving it a serrated appearance.
9
Whale inspired blades have been incorporated into
wind turbine designs. They are being tested at
the Wind Energy Institute of Canada to see if
they can help to generate more power at slower
speeds than conventional blades, and with less
noise
10
Sharkskin under an electron microscope reveals
tooth-like scales. Water races through the
microgrooves without tumbling, which reduces
friction. The scales also discourage barnacles
and algae.
11
Technological solutions to Global Warming

• Giant sunshade for the Earth 16 trillion
  floating disks to reflect solar energy
• Iron fertilisation of the oceans encourages
  blooms of plankton remove excess C02
• An artificial volcano sulphur in large amounts
  causes enhanced reflection of solar radiation
  into space global cooling
• Artificial Trees carbon capture via limewater
  coating to collect the C02

12
Can technology fix global warming? - Research
Task

• Research
• The problems
• The possible solutions of taking C02 out of the
  atmosphere and storing it
• Start by using the BBC science website
  www.bbc.co.uk/sn
• Assess whether technology to remove C02 from the
  atmosphere is the technological fix to the
  problem of global warming?

13
Plenary How sustainable?