BU Research Blog

This years series of nine community lectures at The Thomas Hardye School are set to start up this month so be sure to get your tickets soon!  Details of the first fascinating lecture are below

Title of Lecture: ‘What Happens When The Oil Runs Out’?

Speaker: Professor Chris Rhodes. 

Date of Lecture: Monday 24th September, 2012.  

Time: 7.00pm.   

Venue: The Thomas Hardye School – Theatre.

Across the world, 30 billion barrels of crude-oil are produced each year, not only for fuel but to make practically all products ranging from plastics to pharmaceuticals. Nearly all of our food also depends entirely on oil.  However, world oil production is set to declining within 5 years.  If we continue as we are, Western-Civilisation will collapse, and our salvation requires a re-adaption of how we live, from the global to the local; to a world of small communities far less dependent on transportation.  Technology will not save us,  unless we cut our energy use and particularly our demand for oil.

NB: Aspects of fracking, solar energy, geothermal energy, wind power and nuclear fusion will be covered within the lecture content.

Professor Chris Rhodes is a writer and researcher who became involved with environmental issues while working in Russia during the aftermath of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. He studied chemistry at Sussex University, earning both a B.Sc and a Doctoral degree (D.Phil.); rising to become the youngest professor of physical chemistry in the U.K. at the age of 34.

He has published more than 200 peer reviewed scientific articles and 3 books. He is also a published novelist, journalist and poet. His novel, “University Shambles” was nominated for Brit Writers’ Awards 2011: Published Writer of the Year. He has most recently published an illustrated children’s book, “Hippy the Happy Hippopotamus”.

Chris has given numerous radio and televised interviews concerning environmental issues, both in Europe and in the United States – including on BBC Radio 4’s Material World. Latest invitations as a speaker include a series of international lectures regarding the impending depletion of world oil and the need to develop oil-independent, sustainable societies.

Admission: By ticket only (no charge, but donations welcome on the night)- available from School Reception, as from 08.45hrs on Tuesday 11th September,’12 and up to the day of the lecture itself.