You live near a major university. There are smart people that come here every week to talk to the general public about interesting topics. Perhaps you were not aware of this fact, or were overwhelmed by the sheer number of opportunities for possible transcendence. If that’s the case, Smile Politely understands and is here to help. Here are three speakers that will be on campus this week, and two of them took the time to answer a few questions about their area of expertise. Check one or more of them out if you have time.
Monday, Dec. 8 @ 12 noon: Sustainability seminar “Underground Thermal Energy Storage (UTES) — Renewable Energy Stores Beneath Our Feet,” by Dr. Fred Michel, Director of the Institute of Environmental Science at Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada; Illinois Sustainable Technolgy Center, One E. Hazelwood Dr., Champaign
According to Dr. Michel, geothermal can be versatile. “There are many types of geothermal systems available and each one should be designed/adapted according to the local geological conditions. The smallest systems are at the individual household size,” he said.
Dr. Michel hopes his talk will be accessible to both the academic and the possible end-user. “It is always nice to talk about ideas within the academic community, and it is here that the research goes on that will continue to improve these systems,” Michel noted. “Ultimately it is the end user that needs to know what the systems are all about and begin to feel comfortable that they are a viable alternative to current standard practice. Therefore, it is necessary to be able to address both groups in the talk.”
Michel has been involved in geothermal energy for quite some time. “Originally it started with some research on a group of hot springs in western Canada where high temperature geothermal was being investigated for possible power generation,” he explained. “For low temperature geothermal, it was with my involvement in a proposed aquifer thermal energy storage system (ATES) at my university in the 1980s.”
Tuesday, Dec. 9 @ 3:30 p.m.: “Faecal residues, dead bugs and dissenting opinions: the scoop on poop,” by Dr. Kevin Floate; I-Building Room 1005, 1816 S. Oak St., Champaign
I wasn’t able to uncover any additional information on this presentation, but felt that you, the reader, should be made aware whenever there is a speaker who incorporates “poop” in the title of their talk. Enjoy!
Wednesday, Dec. 10 @ 12 noon: “How Empathy Is Supporting More Effective Product Development,” by UIUC Professor Deana McDonagh, Art + Design; Beckman Institute, Room 1005
Dr. McDonagh described her talk as follows: “From the moment we wake up to the moment we fall asleep, we interact with hundreds of products. The main function of many products is to assist us in our daily tasks. Some products help to construct our personal and public identity. If products do not satisfy our functional needs, they can literally strip us of our independence. In the long run, poor food packaging can demise the range of food we can purchase. This can have a significant impact on a person’s independence.
Dr. McDonagh continued, “My presentation will highlight some ‘design common sense’ that will help people to become more reflective to the products that they surround themselves with.”
Dr. McDonagh also has significant experience working in England. She described some of the differences of the two countries’ design philosophies. “We live in a global economy, and designers are often designing for people that exist outside their culture, age group and even gender. Design as the bridge between the sciences and the arts is more integrated in Europe than here in the US. But the good news is, this is changing.
The speaker calendar is pretty bare after Wednesday, and there will likely be little going on over the Christmas break. So, if I don’t see you until 2009, have a good one, and, as always, listen up.