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Results for "post-oil economy"

Transdisciplinary science and the future of energy

KAUST · Nov 6

A KAUST article discusses the future of energy, highlighting the role of hydrocarbon fuels and the need for sustainable practices. Professor Tadeusz W. Patzek's paper emphasizes finding sustainable bridges until alternative energy sources become viable. The article contrasts optimistic and pessimistic views on energy sustainability, drawing parallels to the whale oil industry. Why it matters: The piece highlights the tension between continued reliance on fossil fuels and the urgent need for alternative energy sources and reduced consumption in the GCC region and globally.

What drives us and what powers us

KAUST · Feb 13

Nate Hagens from the University of Minnesota spoke at KAUST's Winter Enrichment Program (WEP) 2018 about the intersection of energy, human behavior, and economics. Hagens argued that society functions as an energy-dissipating "superorganism," with human preferences correlated with increasing energy needs. He emphasized that energy, not money, is the real capital, but global society is running out of it. Why it matters: The talk highlights the importance of viewing society through an ecological lens, particularly in the context of the GCC region's reliance on energy resources.