Monday, October 12, 2009
Since alumna Linda Cook graduated 29 years ago with a degree in petroleum engineering, she has served on the boards of directors for both Shell and Boeing. Her prominence in the energy industry has earned her repeated recognition by Forbes Magazine as one of the 100 most powerful women in the world, reaching No. 43 in 2008.
Cook spoke to more than 100 undergraduates assembled in Eaton Hall Friday. Cook said she chose to visit the University because, for as far as she could remember, the need for engineers specializing in energy had never been greater.
Linda Cook, former executive director of Natural Gas & Power for Royal Dutch Shell, speaks to engineering students about energy and the environment Friday afternoon. Cook graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in petroleum engineering in 1980.
“We need more engineers in the world today and, in particular, in the energy sector,” Cook said. “So, if I can come here and try to encourage the kids who are thinking about engineering to devote their energy toward the energy sector, then it would be well worth it.”
Cook said the current worldwide energy crisis created a need for engineers specializing in all energy fields and challenged students to fill this demand. She spoke from experience. She herself landed her first job—with Shell in Northern Michigan— during a time of similarly high demand.
“I was lucky because the demand for petroleum engineers at the time was right after the oil crisis of ’79,” Cook said in her speech. “The demand was very, very high for petroleum engineers.”
Cook said that solving the current energy crisis required innovation in both alternative renewable energy and traditional energy resources.
“Even if renewable supply grew by 10 percent per year, which is huge,” Cook said, “it’s going to take many, many years before renewables can play a major or leading role in the world’s energy portfolio.”
Joe Deneault, Topeka junior, said Cook’s statements about renewable energy were the most interesting part of her speech.
“Most people are pushing for going completely green,” Deneault said. “So, to hear somebody say that’s not feasible right now kind of goes against a lot of what your hear in the media today and just what is the general consensus today in the population.”
Currently, renewable sources, such as wind, solar and biofuels, account for less than 1 percent of the world’s energy, Cook explained. Energy from renewables can cost 20 to 50 percent more than energy from oil, coal and natural gas, she said. Engineers haven’t developed the technology to make alternative forms of energy more effective and therefore cheaper, she said.
Cook said she often used the example of wind turbines to help give alternative-energy advocates a different perspective. She asks them if, for the same amount of energy, they would prefer wind turbines across 300 miles of mountaintops or one nuclear power plant that covers one square mile.
“A lot of people say, ‘Neither. I don’t want more oil, and I don’t want to give up my SUV, and I don’t want to turn up my thermostat to eighty during the summer, and I don’t want to pay more for my electricity,’” Cook said. “You get to an unsolvable equation, and all I have to say is thank goodness we have lots of kids majoring in engineering today because its engineers who can really play a key role in trying to solve what are very, very difficult problems.”
Deneault, a chemical engineering major, said his biggest goal was to help develop renewable energy resources. He said it was important, however, to be realistic about switching entirely to energy provided by alternative sources.
“If 2 percent of the world is run by renewable energy in my lifetime, I feel that would be a huge advancement from what we have now,” Deneault said.
Kaleigh Braun, Hutchison senior and chemical engineering major, said she appreciated the importance Cook also placed on finding ways to use nonrenewable resources more efficiently.
“She talked about how half of the energy we use is lost,” Braun said. “That makes our jobs as engineers important because we need to make more efficient energy.”
— Edited by Brenna M. T. Daldorph
Guest: How Americans can find independence
Discussing the future of energy
Brownback and 13 experts of energy and regulation debate energy business and ...
Ecohawks hope to ride the wind
KU group wants to power experimental car with wind turbine
Biodiesel offers cheap alternative
Car owners can cut the cost of operating their vehicles by turning ...
Biking to protest dirty fuel
Student members of Greenpeace will travel to Rep. Dennis Moore’s offices today ...
Anschutz to use wind energy for a ...
Leaders will speak about sustainable energy in front of the library today.
Kansas students volunteer for the earth
Student volunteers are making biodiesel on campus, and are looking for others ...
Energy solutions for U.S. economy include drilling
Enivonmental: How green should we go?
Candidates' platforms cater to green interests.
Students of Liberty’s platform goes ‘green' with ...
The turbine-filled platform would have the University follow a similar initiative already ...
Lowell: Sustainability blown in with the wind
Kansas should capitalize on its wind resources for clean, cheap, renewable energy.
Evaluating presidential platforms
Obama and McCain differ on three major points during campaign.
Mixed market for engineering graduates
KU career fair is the only lead for some engineering majors without ...
Overworked students' dangerous race against time
Is too much work and too little time putting students' health at ...
Campus biofuel lab promotes efficiency
New platforms and funding to lab make fuel production more efficient for ...
Solution for oil price increase debated
With the average gas price in Lawrence at $3.05 per gallon, the ...
Daschle speaks on current issues
Gas station brings energy efficient ideas to ...
Zarco 66 offers 10 renewable fuel blends and provides ‘green’ atmosphere.
Pickens to discuss energy plan
Oil tycoon will speak about renewable energy today at the Dole Institute.
Group tables against bill for new power ...
Gov. Sebelius is expected to make a final decision on two plants ...
Solar energy’s bright future in Kansas
Faculty and students are exploring new ways to embrace solar energy.
Record gas prices prompt gas strike
The proposed stike will take place on June 17, 18, but some ...
Lowell: Bill may reduce cost of going ...
Legislation would give property owners incentives to make buildings more energy-efficient.
Engineering highlights list of money-making majors
Many students, though, are not getting degrees on PayScale.com's list of most ...
Try these tips for an eco-friendly ‘green ...
Giving environmentally friendly gifts, such as a birdhouse or adopting a pet ...
Oil magnate to present energy plan at ...
Pickens plan would use natural gas, solar, and wind to end foreign ...
Two students design rain garden at Zarco ...
The garden has native plants as part of its water conservation system ...
KU alumna climbed her way to the ...
Cynthia Carroll is ranked fifth most powerful woman by Forbes Magazine.
Research may lead to greater yield from ...
Student recognized for green chemistry
Madhav Ghant won an award for his research of environmentally friendly ways ...
Department of aerospace engineering wins top awards
The department won awards for individual design, aerospace research and top educator.
Baby Steps
How five days without a car helped Jayplay writer Courtney Hagen realize ...
Candidates discuss positions on environmental issues
The Kansan spoke with local State Senate and State House candidates, asking ...
Spring Eats
Celebrate the return of nice weather with fresh, healthy meal ideas
Council seeks solutions in energy’s future
Federal and state organizations meet to discuss advantages, challenges of alternative energy ...
Oil magnate to present energy plan at ...
Pickens plan would use natural gas, solar, and wind to end foreign ...
KGS tests underground for CO2 storage
CO2 storage may be stored in an underground rock structure called the ...
Westar pays for environmental violation
The Topeka-based power company agreed to pay $500 million for violating the ...
Tricycle-riding petitioner talks at Wescoe
Tom Weis spoke with an environmental studies class Friday about his desire ...
Changes abound at Wakarusa Festival
The Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival focuses on more than just great ...
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
KUnited presidential candidate Libby Johnson and vice presidential ...
1 comment
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID