Switch: What Is the Future of Energy? Documentary & Discussion
Wednesday, 03 Apr 2013 at 7:00 pm – Great Hall, Memorial Union
Energy is one of the most important issue of our time. Our transportation, global commerce, food and water, medicine, communications and computing all depend on it. The film Switch explores the way we use energy, from coal to solar, oil to biofuels. Writer and producer Scott Tinker, a geologist, talks to the people driving energy research and production today, including national and international government officials, industry leaders and academics. The film removes politics from the discussion, makes the technical accessible and documents our likely path of transition to new energy sources. A discussion will immediately follow the 98-min film.The following Iowa State faculty and employees will participate in the post-film discussion, which will be moderated by Bill Simpkins a professor in the Department of Geological and Atmospheric Science.
Iver Anderson, faculty scientist, Ames Lab; adjunct professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Robert Brown, Iowa Farm Bureau Director, Bioeconomy Institute; Anson Marston Distinguished Professor in Engineering; Director, Center for Sustainable Environmental Technologies
Bill Gutowski, professor, Department of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences
Franek Hasiuk, assistant professor, Department of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences
Matt Liebman, professor, Henry A. Wallace Chair for Sustainable Agriculture
John Miranowski, professor, Department of Economics
Merry Rankin, Director, Office of Sustainability
Gene Takle, professor, Agronomy Department and Climate Science Program
Jeff Witt, Director, Iowa State University Utility Services (Power Plant)
Switch is an Arcos Films production. It was produced and directed by Harry Lynch and is presented by the Geological Society of America in conjunction with the American Geosciences Institute.
Scott Tinker is the director of the Bureau of Economic Geology and the State Geologist of Texas. He is also the acting associate dean for research, and a professor holding the Allday Endowed Chair in the Jackson School of Geosciences at The University of Texas at Austin.
Director Harry Lynch has been directing, producing and writing documentary films for sixteen years. He has also worked as a photographer, screenwriter, ad writer and producer, audio engineer and record company intern. Switch is his sixth film. Others include: Unconventional (2008 NBC regional), Recapturing Cuba (2007 PBS), Ride Around the World (2006 IMAX), Making the Modern (2003 PBS), Bullriders (1997 theatrical, DirecTV).
This film is just one part of the Switch Energy Project. It includes a video-driven website, with more than five hours of short clips organized by topic: www.switchenergyproject.com.
Cosponsored By:
- ActivUs
- American Geosciences Institute
- Bioeconomy Institute
- Center for Biorenewable Chemicals
- Geological & Atmospheric Sciences
- Geological Society of America
- Office of Sustainability
- Committee on Lectures (funded by Student Government)
Stay for the entire event, including the brief question-and-answer session that follows the formal presentation. Most events run 75 minutes.
Sign-ins are after the event concludes. For lectures in the Memorial Union, go to the information desk in the Main Lounge. In other academic buildings, look for signage outside the auditorium.
Lecture Etiquette
- Stay for the entire lecture and the brief audience Q&A. If a student needs to leave early, he or she should sit near the back and exit discreetly.
- Do not bring food or uncovered drinks into the lecture.
- Check with Lectures staff before taking photographs or recording any portion of the event. There are often restrictions. Cell phones, tablets and laptops may be used to take notes or for class assignments.
- Keep questions or comments brief and concise to allow as many as possible.