Global Demand for Oil Could Outstrip World's Ability To Produce It within Seven Years
ST. MARY'S CITY, Md. (Feb. 3, 2008) - America's vulnerability to petroleum shortages and an energy future that is radically different from the present will be the topics of Dr. Charles L. Adler's lecture Wednesday, Feb. 6 at 7 p.m. in St. Mary's College of Maryland's Daugherty-Palmer Commons. This lecture is free and open to the public, and is geared to a general audience.
Adler, chair of the college's Physics and Mathematics/Computer Science Department, is the Steven Muller Distinguished Professor of Science. His talk will focus on the changes our society and economy must make to meet upcoming fossil fuel shortages. He cites the fact that major oil suppliers have indicated that the global demand for oil could outstrip the world's ability to produce it within seven short years. He will also touch on basic principles such as the conservation of energy and the Hubbert "peak oil" theory that could make the national discussion of an oil crisis more understandable.
"The basic message of my talk is that this is not 'business as usual' anymore," said Dr. Adler. "There are strong indications that our modern technological society, which is based on a supply of cheap petroleum, will have to change within a very short time to meet the upcoming fossil fuels shortage."