From mud stoves burning on logs and coal, to CNG and LPG based gas cylinders and now to electric induction stoves we have come a long way from conventional fuels to renewable energy. Not just in homes but our travelling methods have also been changed to adopt the renewable sources. We are now moving towards electric cars. The trains too have evolved from steam engines to electric bogies. How long before this transition completes?
Northeastern University’s new faculty addition, Jennie Stephens says it’s clear that the world is transitioning away from fossil fuels toward renewable-based systems for the majority of our energy needs. Her research, by contrast, focuses on the social, cultural, and institutional innovations facilitating social learning within this transition. That is, she focuses on understanding how the social dynamics—including political power, institutional norms, and gender— influence deployment of wind power, solar, and smart grids. Stephens says,
“Sustainability science is defined by the problems it addresses, rather than the disciplines and methods used to address those problems. It has this science-to-action connection that is very explicit. Coming to a university with a commitment to cross-disciplinary research with high impact that is being very dynamic and responsive to what’s happening outside the university is just very exciting. Expanding climate and energy education and preparing for the renewable energy transition is critically important to building resilience. We need to prepare students with skills to engage in a rapidly-changing world.”
The condition of world climate and the health of our earth are deteriorating exponentially each moment. While it’s important to find solutions to undo the wrongs, it is equally important to find preventive measures. Renewable energy sources are one solution to the problem. Renewable sources can be generated easily saving the natural resources of the earth’s ecosystem that gets hampered whenever we procure resources. After all, isn’t prevention better than cure?
Shraddha Patil