Thirtieth
Annual
Seminar Series
Rethinking Water: A Critical Resource
Six Monthly Dinner Seminars
October 2011 through March 2012
Kenwood Club,
5601 River Road,
Bethesda, MD
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Online registration:
https://alum.mit.edu/smarTrans/register-login.vm?eventID=58081&groupID=1161
The MIT Club of Washington is pleased to present its 30th annual Seminar
Series on an important national topic related to science and technology. Each
year, the series offers engineers, scientists, industry leaders, policy makers,
and educators an opportunity to explore a specific topic in depth. Both those
within and outside the Washington area MIT community gain the opportunity to
develop a better understanding of recent developments and key issues.
Presentations by distinguished speakers are followed by ample time for
questions and discussion. The social hour and dinner provide additional
opportunities to meet the speakers, renew acquaintances, or join in stimulating
discussions with other participants.
2011-2012 Topic: Rethinking Water: A Critical Resource
Energy policy has been our concern for a number of years. But perhaps this focus
has made us less attentive to what might be an even more pressing problem, the
need for a reliable supply of fresh drinking water. We take this resource for
granted, though for about a billion people in the world it is a daily concern.
It is more vital than oil but to a greater extent squandered. If you think that
is an exaggeration you have only to ask yourself, "How long can I go without
water?" Or, notice that you can live a long time after your power goes out, but
deprived of water...not long. Compounding the water supply shortages in the
world is their inevitable negative impact on the local food supplies- in some
areas exacerbated by climate changes and energy costs. We ask what technologies
can be brought to bear on this problem, and how are we addressing it
individually, organizationally, regionally, and globally? In this Series we
survey some of the issues associated with perhaps our most precious
resource--water.
Tues. Oct. 11, 2011
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The Energy-Water Nexus: As a transition from past seminars on
energy policy we look at the intersection between energy supply and
water supply. There is water usage for energy generation and demands on
energy resources for water use and delivery. Demand for water in
agriculture, commerce and industry competes with water usage for energy
generation. What are the major regional and national issues facing us?
How can we assure a sustainable supply of energy without at the same
time sacrificing water quality and the fouling of our most precious
resource? Presentation:
NAS EWN Presentation 6-2008 (update 10-2011).pptx
Speaker: Dr. Michael Hightower, Sandia National
Laboratory |
Tues. Nov. 8, 2011
|
Global Perspectives: We examine the global consequences of
drinking water supply shortages and examine the far reaching extent of
the problem. This problem is not limited to developing, or under
developed areas, but it also presents its signature in well developed
areas, as well as a source of contention or opportunity for cooperation.
Speaker: Dr. Aaron Salzberg, '98, Special Coordinator for Water
Resources, U.S. Department of State |
Tues. Dec. 13, 2011
April 10, 2012 |
Investigating Natural Gas Drilling and Its Water Impacts: An
investigative reporter for The New York Times, discusses the goals,
findings, and challenges of the paper's series on one of the foremost
energy issues of the day: natural gas drilling and hydrofracking. He
will touch on the promise of this new technology as well as its
implications for water and other resources.
Speaker: Ian Urbina, National Reporter, The New York Times |
Tues. Jan. 17, 2012
|
Advances In Desalination Technology:
We explore the deployment of desalination technologies and the
current innovations in the desalination of water. Where there is energy
and salty water there can be drinkable water. What are the parameters
for a sustainable water supply and affordable desalination solutions?
Desalinated water is the answer in many areas and there is promising new
technology to examine in terms of its applicability to different regions
and its costs. We observe that desalination costs were declining to
approach the costs of fresh water until the rise in energy costs once
again caused the prices to diverge. Several parts of the Middle East
have depended on seawater desalination for many years. This session will
discuss present and future capabilities of these technologies and their
applicability to the US water situation.
Speaker: Tom Pankratz, Senior Writer, Fast Company, Editor, Water
Desalination Report |
Tues. Feb. 14, 2012
|
Redesigning Water Systems: The principles of system engineering
have been applied to water resources over the ages with great success as
long as hydro climatic and socioeconomic conditions did not change too
quickly. The failure of water systems can change the course of
civilizations. We must take a comprehensive approach towards water usage
that includes conservation and efficiency, community-scale
infrastructure, protection of aquatic ecosystems, and management at the
appropriate natural scales, as well as within boundaries drawn on the
map by political entities. The session will discuss projects in South
Asia and the U.S., and the results of the recent MIT interdisciplinary
study to coordinate research on this topic.
Speaker: Dr. James L. Wescoat, Jr., Aga Khan Professor of
Architecture, MIT |
Tues. Mar. 13, 2012
|
The Unique Economics of Water: In
this session we examine the economic properties of water including such
factors as urban water demand management, market-based approaches to
water conservation, drinking water quality regulation, access to
drinking water among low-income populations, and the efficient
allocation of water across sectors Speaker: Dr. Sheila Olmstead,
Senior Researcher, Resources for the Future Presentation:
Economics and water
resources: the importance of pricing and markets |
Each session begins at 6:15 p.m. with a cash bar,
followed by dinner at 7:00, and the seminar from approximately 8:00 to 9:30.
Each of the sessions will be held at the Kenwood Club, 5601
River Road, Bethesda, MD.
From the Beltway (I-495) use Exit 39, River Road. Go toward
Washington, continue 2.8 miles. At the Springfield Drive stoplight turn left
into Kenwood CC. There is plenty of free parking in the lots left and rear of the clubhouse.
From DC head northwest on Massachusetts Avenue NW; turn right onto Little
Falls Parkway; turn left onto River Road; proceed to 5601 River Road and turn
right into Kenwood Club.
Using mass transit take the Metro Red Line to Friendship Heights, then
take the nine minute ride on the T2 Metrobus that leaves the station at 5:35,
5:55, and 6:15.
NOTE: The sessions meet on the 2nd Tuesday of the month, except the
January session, which meets on the 3rd Tuesday.
There is an elevator, accessible from outside, that brings people up to the
patio level outside the registration table.
Registration will be accepted for the complete series only, though
spaces are transferable for individual sessions. Reservations will be accepted
in the order they are received, up to the capacity limit. The series is open to
MIT Alumni/ae, their guests and all others interested in the topic. To avoid
disappointment from oversubscription, we recommend early response. Federal
employees may submit an approved SF 182 for payment.
The subscription cost of the Washington Seminar Series is $320 per person for
members of the MIT Club of Washington and their guests, and $350 for non
members, which includes dinner for each session. To register and pay by check,
mail in the coupon below.
Or register online and pay by credit card using MIT's SmarTrans
at
https://alum.mit.edu/smarTrans/register-login.vm?eventID=58081&groupID=1161. Club Partners only may register via e-mail to Ray Daniels to
raphaeldaniels@alum.mit.edu.
NOTE: Space is available for the set of remaining sessions. Deduct $45
from the normal price for each of the missed sessions. Contact Ray Daniels at
raphaeldaniels@alum.mit.edu
for payment instructions.
Contact Ken Gordon at 301-469-9240 or
kengordon@alum.mit.edu.
General Chairman
Dr. Kenneth Gordon
Program Committee
Mr. Mark Joseph, Chair
Dr. Michael R. Leavitt
Mr. Ray Daniels
Dr. Robert Hershey
Mr. John Starke
Treasurer
Mr. Mark Joseph
Registration
Mr. Ray Daniels
Dr. Bernard Paiewonsky
Publicity
Dr. Robert Hershey
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SEMINAR SERIES; RETHINKING WATER; OCT 2011 thru MAR 2012: KENWOOD CLUB,
BETHESDA, MDEnclosed is a check made out to "MIT Seminar Series" for $_______ for _______ people ($320
each for dues-paid members and their guests; $350 each for nonmembers).
Check one:
_____ I have already paid my dues for 2011-2012.
_____ I am enclosing a dues check for $30; send my Club newsletters via __ email, __ US
Mail, __ both;Name _______________________________________________________________ Class: _______
Guest(s) __________________________________________________________________________
Address ___________________________________________________________________________
Phone ___________________________________(h) ___________________________________(b)
Fax _____________________ E-Mail __________________________________________________
Special Note: Please provide your current e-mail address since we will use it to disseminate reminders and any
re-scheduling notices.
Send your registration and payment to:
Mr. Ray Daniels
MIT Seminar Series 4700 Falstone Avenue Chevy Chase, MD 20815-5544
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