World-renowned chemist visits U of M
‘What we do in the next 50 years is going to determine the state of our planet for the next 3,000’: Lewis
MICHAEL OLSON STAFF
On March 22, renowned chemist Nathan Lewis delivered the 2007 Betts Lecture at the Drake Centre at the University of Manitoba. Currently a professor at the California Institute of Technology, much of Lewis’ work focuses on improving sustainable energy technology.
In his presentation, Lewis stated, “We don’t know what a safe level of CO2 [carbon dioxide] is. The only time we’ll be able to tell if CO2 is the cause of so much change will be when it’s too late.” Lewis mentioned nuclear fission as a source of carbon-free power: “It’s currently the only option we have on the table.”
Though Lewis has advocated research for alternatives to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, he commented, “The Stone Age did not end because we ran out of stone, and the fossil energy age is not going to end anytime soon because we’re going to run out of cheap, efficient fossil energy.”
Lewis stated further, “That means renewables aren’t going to play a large role unless we are at a technological or cost breakthrough, or there is something that will deny us the ability to use that lowest cost, most abundant energy source we have on our planet.”
Lewis went further to comment, “We should go to the Sun because that’s where the energy is — plain and simple. What we do in the next 50 years is going to determine the state of our planet for the next 3,000.”
Lewis has served on panels on sustainable energy for the National Academy of Sciences and has also been an active participant in the World Economic Forum. Lewis also acquired much fame after from his work on the electronic nose, an electronic tool that is able to sense and identify various odours.
Lewis’s work now includes looking at all of the resources and technologies that are available, and trying to determine the best option for the long term.
“We in Manitoba have made certain decisions that are often based on political criteria, not always based on the soundest science,” commented Scott Kroeker, chair of the Betts Lectureship selection committee, in an interview before the lecture. “So I suspect that some of our near and dear solutions may come under attack tonight.”
“We felt he had the right kind of personality and the right kind of delivery to speak to a broad range of people on issues chemical,” said Kroker, “and the intent of the Betts Lectureship is to bring in excellent chemists to talk about issues that affect all of us.”
“He’s been on our list for a while, and we have a fairly long list of people we’re hoping to get eventually,” said Kroeker.
Other notable chemists that the Betts Lectureship has brought to the U of M include Geoff Ozin, who is arguably one of the most influential material chemists in the world, and Joseph Ackerman, who has spent much of his time researching magnetic resonance of physiological systems.
The Betts Lectureship was established in 1989 as a means of promoting chemistry-related issues to the campus community and employs a selection committee composed of five people who choose renowned chemists to speak at the U of M. Named after Robert Betts, who functioned as the head of the department of chemistry at the U of M from 1966 to 1975, the group usually schedules one or two lectures at the university every year.
