Spectral lines: Energy crisis: Seeking the real alternatives

What should be the role of the technologist in communicating with the “average citizen,” who knows only that fuel and electric power are in such short supply that his life style is affected? A desirable outcome that could result from a more thorough delineation of the many tradeoffs available to the U.S. and other developed countries in piloting their way to a more stable and satisfactory world energy situation is a citizenry that is “comfortable” in its knowledge that options do exist. A public that is aware of the real alternatives along with their consequences is less likely to react in ways that cause the situation to deteriorate. Such was the conclusion of a workshop of concerned engineers and scientists meeting recently on the topic of energy resources.^∗