Don’t raise this sunshade
"I must disagree with Anthony Best regarding the desirability of using dust from an asteroid to shield the Earth from solar radiation to reduce global warming (Your Voice, Professional Engineering No 2, 2020).
Global warming is the result of anthropogenic CO2 emissions accumulating in the atmosphere, and the only long-term option is to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions to as close to zero as possible. Solar irradiance is relatively stable (0.1% variation over a solar cycle) and contributes little to the present (or recent past) rise in the global average surface temperature.
Best states that emissions reduction policies are having little effect on global warming; that may be because there have been no global reductions in emissions. From 2009 to 2018 global CO2 emissions from fossil fuels increased by 14% (2% from 2017 to 2018).
The UK and many western countries have achieved some reductions, mainly by closing coal-fired power stations and exporting their industries to China, India and other developing countries.
Although a ‘sunshade’ would help alleviate global warming, its development would take years to achieve and would drain resources from the primary task of reducing emissions. Also, it would not reduce the acidification that is occurring as excess CO2 dissolves in the oceans. Many oceanographers believe this is already causing problems for phytoplankton and other aquatic species that are at the base of the food chain."
Robin Trow, Snodland, Kent
Why we need STEM Ambassadors now more than ever
"At this difficult coronavirus time we are all grateful for those who are looking after us. So many doctors, nurses, carers, lab technicians, police, fire-crew, paramedics.
But all depend upon science, technology, engineering and maths, STEM.
STEM is a vital part of conquering coronavirus and also in the recovery of the economy after the pandemic has ended. As members we are all involved in some part of the recovery. But we will all get old and retire so we need to encourage the young to take up a STEM career to continue the advances we have helped to achieve.
Many thousands of members are STEM Ambassadors, but we need many, many more to help us in schools and colleges.
You can help in many ways, by: attending careers fairs; helping with mock interviews; visiting STEM clubs for a few sessions; giving talks on your career, achievements or on hot topics like the environment; or by developing pupil challenges.
At this difficult time you can also help to encourage children to study at home, guide them to the teaching websites, set them challenges that will stretch their knowledge, publish your stories, etc. You can also use social media to do this. You could use the Institution’s web pages and social media accounts, STEM Learning, teachers’ forums, the sites used by young people, etc.
But always adhering to the Institution’s policies and guidelines for keeping vulnerable people safe, especially from abuse. I strongly recommend that members apply to become STEM Ambassadors so that their motives are verified and clear to all.
Please help us to help the next generation succeed."
Derrick Willer MBE
Time to back carbon capture
"The piece about carbon capture and storage (CCS) is timely (“Capture that carbon,” Professional Engineering No 2, 2020).
The authorities have repeatedly blown hot and cold about this technology, while the green lobby has often dismissed it as a means of avoiding the switch to renewable energy. Both have failed to understand or been reluctant to acknowledge the enormous scale of energy systems and, therefore, the magnitude of the transformation required.
A senior official at the then Department of Energy and Climate Change assured me in 2011 that we would have the first new nuclear power station online by April 2018. My reply that the history of building nuclear power plants and the lack of the necessary skills meant that it was far more likely to be at least 2020 before there would be any new nuclear generation was met with a look of withering scorn.
It has been a deeply seated failure of our governmental system throughout many decades to understand science and engineering.
It is interesting that the current health crisis has suddenly brought scientific expertise into the forefront of government. But CCS has suffered in accordance with the well-established pattern. It is high time its potential were established for all the reasons given in your article."
David Odling, Altrincham
Lead the charge on EV charging
"Should we not be developing a national electric vehicle charging infrastructure? In southern Warwickshire, there are several locations for electric vehicle charging but there is a problem; most are not smart charging points and there are mainly two charging points at each location.
Surely locations will need MANY charging points, particularly at motorway service stations, as few drivers will want to wait on a long queue to recharge."
Ken McDougall, Warwickshire
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Content published by Professional Engineering does not necessarily represent the views of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.