University Libraries will host an e-Research Lecture on April 23, at 3 p.m. in the Willard Room of Zimmerman Library. Rajan Gupta, Nuclear and Particle Physics, Astrophysics and Cosmology Group at Los Alamos National Laboratory, will present “Geospatial Cognition and Understanding of Global Energy Systems.”
Photo: Rajan Gupta
Energy systems are enormous, complex, dynamic and adaptive. Understanding them is crucial because energy is the key to development and is the basis of modern technological societies and, at the same time, because of rising concern for associated environmental impacts and green house gas emissions contributing to climate change.
This talk will describe the Global Energy Observatory Dr. Gupta plans to build, with public participation, which will create a comprehensive picture of the world's energy systems so that we can understand regional variations, choices, and needs, and follow their full cycle: from sources to generation to global movements to use to impacts.
The talk will include a discussion on incorporating emerging GIS and information science tools, volunteered information by the public and experts (citizen sensors), and issues of trust and quality in synthesizing heterogeneous data in building and maintaining such an open global database.
Rajan Gupta is a theoretical physicist at Los Alamos National Laboratory and a Laboratory fellow. He came to the USA in 1975 after obtaining his Masters in Physics from Delhi University, India, and earned his Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics from The California Institute of Technology in 1982.
The main thrust of his research is to understand the fundamental theories of elementary particle interactions. In addition, he uses modeling and simulations to study Biological and Statistical Mechanics systems, and to push the envelope of High Performance Computing. He has published over 125 research papers in prestigious refereed journals and is a fellow of the American Physical Society.
During 2007 he served as the chair of the LANL energy council. In this role he helped create a strategic plan for LANL’s investment in energy R&D and advocated for energy security to be made a part of the core LANL mission.
He is currently building a web based Global Energy Observatory that will provide a comprehensive view of the world’s energy systems and their networks and interdependencies. Based on this understanding and database he is carrying out a global analysis (integrating demographics, economics, health, education and energy and water resources) to help accelerate the transition to cheap and clean energy for the global population.
Free and open to all. For more information contact Pauline Heffern at 277-0818 or pheffern@unm.edu.
Media Contact: Karen Wentworth, (505) 277-5627; e-mail: kwent2@unm.edu
Posted by scarr at April 15, 2010 01:25 PM