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Which energy technology would be more fascinating to study?

  • Oil

    Votes: 5 71.4%
  • Coal

    Votes: 2 28.6%

  • Total voters
    7

Epsilon88

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Oct 26, 2009
327
0
I've been assigned to do a project for my technology university class worth 30% of my grade. I have to choose an energy technology and prepare a research presentation about it. I've boiled it down to oil or coal, and want to focus in on the associated politics (whether international or local). Now I know that both these techs have a LOT of politics associated with them, and coal is interesting due to the new "clean coal" movement.

Which do you think would make a more interesting topic to study? Thanks! :eek:
 
I would go with coal because you will find out a lot more stuff you did not know. It is not reported on as much so a lot of the interesting things from it are not as well known.
 
Personally, I'd choose oil; but not from the stance of how it exists and is used today. I'd write about the end of oil... what will happen to the worlds financial markets when supplies begin to run short and we (USA) have to dip into our oil reserves. What happens to the individual investor who has their money in mutual funds that invest heavily in oil... What happens to companies invested in wind, solar, hydro, electric technologies...

We are on the verge in the next 25-50 years of a complete world transformation. Once the oil dries out.... then what? Makes for a fascinating paper in my opinion, and one you could take in many directions.
 
Personally, I'd choose oil; but not from the stance of how it exists and is used today. I'd write about the end of oil... what will happen to the worlds financial markets when supplies begin to run short and we (USA) have to dip into our oil reserves. What happens to the individual investor who has their money in mutual funds that invest heavily in oil... What happens to companies invested in wind, solar, hydro, electric technologies...

We are on the verge in the next 25-50 years of a complete world transformation. Once the oil dries out.... then what? Makes for a fascinating paper in my opinion, and one you could take in many directions.

That's a great idea! I think I'll do that. Thanks. :)
 
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