Feedback: Dr. Gray's lecture "Sustainable Solutions to Energy, Water & Climate Challenges

Here’s some feedback on the June 4^th ‘09 after-work presentation at Nalco’s Naperville headquarters by Kimberly Gray. Dr. Gray is a Prof. in the Civil & Environmental Engr. Dept. at Northwestern’s McCormick School of Engr. and Director of Northwestern’s Inst. of Sustainable Practices.
 
 From Rick:
 I think that the presentation was too long and covered too much material.  It may have been better if it was broken into a couple of different presentations.  Not enough time for a lot of discussion because of this issue.  It was not clear how much time it would take - one hour - 2 hours.
 
She is good speaker and interacts well.  For me she was building a case I already knew, but maybe not a lot of detail.  I think it would have been good to start with a basic notion or vision - build a sustainable community based on behavior changes - show examples of others that are doing it right now.  Then go back and see where we are now and talk about how to get there.  Most of us have heard the CO2 issue and the global warming.   What do we need to do to get there from here.  How do we do it - based on what others have done.  We do not have the density in Naperville, so what can we do in the suburbs to approach vision.  She dismissed that this is possible in the suburbs.  I do not think so.  I believe we can reduce our energy usage, water usage etc to meet the required criteria, even in the suburbs.  Let's think about that.
 
From Allie who studies China and the Asia/Pacific:
Comprehensive overview.  Repeated information learned in Oceanography at Cornell and at Conserve High School (environmentally-oriented high school in Wisconsin).  Concepts were well integrated.  Good examples of sustainable cities.
 
 From Peter:
Good. Wasn’t able to ask her a question about viability of cellulosic ethanol-based cars versus electric cars after the talk as there were too many asking questions.  She had a handle on the water aspects of environmental sustainability, but probably not on cars/electric power.
 
 From Wendy:
Liked the summary charts of energy sources and uses.  Presentation had too much small print in the PowerPoint slides, and needed more time (audience questions during presentation did cut in a little).  Seems to know how to moderate a debate with/between an audience and keep the tone high.   
 
She is at least attempting to get us to address the whole ball of wax (“…We are encouraged to think outside the box, or as Amory Lovins [Rocky Mountain Institute Cofounder, Chairman, and Chief Scientist] says, “What box?”) from her page http://www.sustainability.northwestern.edu/people/faculty/Gray.html
 
Re: Brian's suggeston to talk at Fermi: She may enjoy seeing our outdoor environment in the Summer/early Fall and perhaps could get an update on any sustainable industrial practices at Fermi.