Meeting Information

Energy Crisis: Mankind's Future After Oil

May 13, 2005
American Center for Physics
College Park, MD

Abstract

The U. S. Department of Energy projects the total world consumption to rise by 59% between 1999 and 2020, from 382 to 607 quads per year (one quad being defined as 10^15 BTU and equivalent to 7 billions of gallons of petroleum). The same report predicts a 20% increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, equivalent to approximately ten billion metric pounds of carbon. Hydrocarbon-based fuel has significantly increased in comparison to coal or natural gas. Renewable energy resources are limited by their availability and/or cost. Virtually the entire existing energy for transportation relies on fossil fuels. Impacts of various alternate energy resources are reviewed. Methane hydrates, abundantly present along the continental margins and in the permafrost regions of the arctic, provide a unique opportunity as a possible alternate energy source. Topics related to three most pressing problems of future mankind; energy, water and environment and their duplications to current research needs are discussed

Biography

Dr. Rath received his B.S. in Physics and Mathematics in India, M.S. in Metallurgical Engineering from Michigan Technological University, and Ph. D. from Illinois Institute of Technology.

1986-present Head of the Materials Science and Component Technology Directorate, NRL
1982-1986 Superintendent of the Materials Science and Technology Division, NRL
1976-1982 Head of the Physical Metallurgy Branch, NRL
Post-1972 Adjunct Professor at Carnegie Mellon University, University of Maryland and Colorado School of Mines at various times
1972-1976 Chief, Metal Physics Research Section, McDonnell Douglas Research Laboratories
1965-1972 U. S. Steel Corporation
1961-1965 Washington State University

He has received many honors and awards, including the Presidential Rank Award in 1999 and 2004, and in 2004, the Lifetime Achievement Award from NRL