Powering the Future

The information and communication technology that we take for granted poses a new threat to the earth’s climate. Demand for data is growing exponentially and, if satisfied by conventional hardware, could consume 20% of world electricity supply by 2030. A potential solution is to make greater use of magnetic materials, that retain information even when the power is turned off, and switch them back and forth using only the light from a laser. We will survey the physical processes that may allow this to happen.

Countries must use renewable energy, especially solar energy, efficiently to be advantageous in global competition and ensure sustainable development. Clean, affordable, and sustainable solar energy technologies are much more environmentally friendly than traditional forms of energy generation. My talk is related to the importance of materials science in delivering strategy and the impact of solar energy. This will further include energy-positive building development, new-generation photovoltaic research and solar fuel production which covers every aspect of solar energy utilization.

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