e-Portfolio 3

Sometimes viewing from a different perspective would generally produce a much better understanding towards a particular problem. Likewise, in today’s lecture, it is an honor to have been able to obtain valuable opinions from three different lecturers with each of them representing different field of study. Three major issues were discussed, they are carbon capture and storage, using science technological studies to address energy (and technological) issue and lastly about climate change and mitigation.

The first lecturer talked about a method of reducing the amount of carbon dioxide gas in the atmosphere by capturing and storing them in deep ocean specifically 2750 meter in depth. Yet the controversy arose was whether carbon dioxide could be contained effectively underwater. Another option mentioned by Professor Palmer was accumulating more particles like sulphur in the atmosphere to reduce the radiation of sunlight that reaches the earth surface thus stabilising the world temperature. However not many countries have the capacity to realise this extraordinary method.

Following next was about the challenges faced by technological products by using an example of the abandoned of electric vehicle in the early 20th century, replaced by cheaper, more convenient fossil fuel powered vehicle. The most interesting point is that all the technologies invented are feasible but was not realised due to political, economical and cultural obstacles like psychological resistance of the public. Cost is another issue influencing the suitability of a technology to be used widely, the return that it will generate for its investors.

Last part of the lecture was mostly focusing on the causes and consequences of climate change as well as the difficulties of mitigating this issue. The main cause of climate change is the growing human population that increases the use of energy and electrical appliances thus enhanced the greenhouse effect. One point that appeals me was that climate change is a global issue that involves certain degree of political element in it since its impact was not spread evenly on Earth. As a result, to mitigate climate change requires the collective effort from all governments.

The point that I found most interesting is the society obstacle when introducing new technology. Most of the time reaction from the public is the “killer” of the new invented technology, therefore, the public has to learn about the benefits of these new technologies towards mankind in order to accept and make use of these new technologies.