Subject: Re: [AUDITORY] What are we doing for the planet? From: Levity <allevity@xxxxxxxx> Date: Thu, 7 Mar 2019 16:50:51 +0100 List-Archive:<http://lists.mcgill.ca/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=AUDITORY>--000000000000c524c8058383126b Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Jeremy, Whilst your suggestions are of course honorable, as scientists it is also important to check that micro-efforts bring about a global result. And since we are in/close to academia, it might be on making sure we impact the policies of mother University. I discovered recently the work of Bjorn Lomborg and it was a slap in my face. The biggest slap I've had in years. Here are two videos I enjoyed, one old (TED talk) and one recent (with J. Peterson) to compare in time. https://www.ted.com/talks/bjorn_lomborg_sets_global_priorities?language=3De= n https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Dprrbooi9PNw To oversimplify into a single sentence, his argument is: let's make sure we invest in the useful things. Regarding climate change, it means investing in education and green energy R&D rather than minimising the use of fossil fuels (because this represents a big effort for a tiny reward). There are of course elements I disagree with, but when it comes to making a global impact, his discourse might be the most useful I've heard, hence the present email in case you were not familiar with his work. I do not know a cost-benefit survey for the line of action you propose. If anyone here know of one, please share. Best regards, --=20 Alban On Thu, 7 Mar 2019 at 06:21, Jeremy Marozeau < 000000aae0ca5ce5-dmarc-request@xxxxxxxx> wrote: > Hello dear colleagues. > > > As scientists, we should be fully aware of the danger of climate change, > and when alarming studies on the environmental impact of man on our plane= t > are published, we should take action. > > We also understand that an effect is more likely to be significant with a > larger =E2=80=9Cn=E2=80=9D. > > So here is my question: Shouldn=E2=80=99t we, as a large scientific commu= nity, try > to reduce our carbon footprint? > > If so, how? I would be interested in hearing your opinion on that issue. > > > Here are some initial thoughts: > > *1] Make conferences more environmentally friendly.* > > While organizing conferences we can try to reduce our plastic waste (avoi= d > plastic bottles, or plastic cup, use recyclable name tags=E2=80=A6), pape= r (no more > printed programs, note pads, or flyers into conferences bags). There are > plenty of eco alternatives for those. Also, we could reduce our consumpti= on > of red meat (OK, I don=E2=80=99t suggest to go vegan yet, just to reduce = the amount > of meat that will be served and avoid leftovers). > > > *2] Deleting the archived emails from the auditory list from our personal > inbox.* > > As you know, data centers storing our emails consume a lot of energy. If > each of the recipients of this list deleted the emails they receive after > reading them, it could mean hundreds of thousands less emails to store an= d > as much energy saved. These messages are stored in the auditory list > archive already so that can be accessed easily: > http://www.auditory.org/postings/ > > > *3] Reducing the amount of air travel for conferences. * > > Yes, I know that networking is an essential part of our job; however, can > we try to reduce the number of miles we are traveling each year? For > example, during the next big conference (ASA or ARO) instead of having > everyone going to the same city, can we organize the conference at two > venues simultaneously: one on the East coast and one on the West? People > would join the closest venue and talks would be transmitted via video > conferences so that everybody can attend all the presentations. > > > These are of course just some suggestions. I am far from having all the > good solutions and ideas. I just hope that together we can find some. > > Jeremy > > > Jeremy Marozeau > Associate Professor > DTU Health Tech > > Technical University of Denmark > Department of Health Technology > =C3=98rsteds Plads > Building 352, Room 124 > 2800 Kgs. Lyngby > Direct +45 45254790 > jemaroz@xxxxxxxx > > --000000000000c524c8058383126b Content-Type: text/html; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <div dir=3D"ltr">Jeremy,=C2=A0<div><br></div><div>Whilst your suggestions a= re of course honorable, as scientists it is also important to check that mi= cro-efforts bring about a global result. And since we are in/close to acade= mia, it might be on making sure we impact the policies of mother University= .=C2=A0</div><div><br></div><div>I discovered recently the work of Bjorn Lo= mborg and it was a slap in my face. The biggest slap I've had in years.= Here are two videos I enjoyed, one old (TED talk) and one recent (with J. = Peterson) to compare in time.</div><div><a href=3D"https://www.ted.com/talk= s/bjorn_lomborg_sets_global_priorities?language=3Den" target=3D"_blank">htt= ps://www.ted.com/talks/bjorn_lomborg_sets_global_priorities?language=3Den</= a><br></div><div><a href=3D"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Dprrbooi9PNw" = target=3D"_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Dprrbooi9PNw</a><br></di= v><div>To oversimplify into a single sentence, his argument is: let's m= ake sure we invest in the useful things. Regarding climate=C2=A0change, it = means investing in education and green energy R&D rather than minimisin= g the use of fossil fuels (because this represents a big effort for a tiny = reward).</div><div><br></div><div>There are of course elements I disagree w= ith, but when it comes to making a global impact, his discourse might be th= e most useful I've heard, hence the present email in case you were not = familiar with his work.=C2=A0</div><div><br></div><div>I do not know a cost= -benefit survey for the line of action you propose. If anyone here know of = one, please share.=C2=A0</div><div><br></div><div>Best regards,=C2=A0</div>= <div>--=C2=A0</div><div>Alban</div></div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote"><di= v dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Thu, 7 Mar 2019 at 06:21, Jeremy Maro= zeau <<a href=3D"mailto:000000aae0ca5ce5-dmarc-request@xxxxxxxx">= 000000aae0ca5ce5-dmarc-request@xxxxxxxx</a>> wrote:<br></div><blo= ckquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left= :1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"> <div dir=3D"ltr"> <div id=3D"gmail-m_-2577007281320630005divtagdefaultwrapper" style=3D"font-= size:12pt;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Calibri,Helvetica,sans-serif" dir=3D= "ltr"> <p></p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">Hello dear colleagues. <u></u><u></u></p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal"><br> </p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">As scientists, we should be fully aware of the dange= r of climate change, and when alarming studies on the environmental impact = of man on our planet are published, we should take action. <u></u><u></u></p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">We also understand that an effect is more likely to = be significant with a larger =E2=80=9Cn=E2=80=9D.<u></u><u></u></p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">So here is my question: Shouldn=E2=80=99t we, as a l= arge scientific community, try to reduce our carbon footprint?<u></u><u></u= ></p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">If so, how? I would be interested in hearing your op= inion on that issue. <u></u><u></u></p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal"><br> </p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">Here are some initial thoughts: <u></u><u></u></p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal"><b>1] Make conferences more environmentally friendly= .<u></u><u></u></b></p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">While organizing conferences we can try to reduce ou= r plastic waste (avoid plastic bottles, or plastic cup, use recyclable name= tags=E2=80=A6), paper (no more printed programs, note pads, or flyers into= conferences bags). There are plenty of eco alternatives for those. Also, we could reduce our consumption of red meat = (OK, I don=E2=80=99t suggest to go vegan yet, just to reduce the amount of = meat that will be served and avoid leftovers).<u></u><u></u></p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal"><br> </p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal"><b>2] Deleting the archived emails from the auditory= list from our personal inbox.<u></u><u></u></b></p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">As you know, data centers storing our emails consume= a lot of energy. If each of the recipients of this list deleted the emails= they receive after reading them, it could mean hundreds of thousands less = emails to store and as much energy saved. These messages are stored in the auditory list archive already so t= hat can be accessed easily: <a href=3D"http://www.auditory.org/postings/" id=3D"gmail-m_-25770072813206= 30005LPlnk327537" target=3D"_blank"> http://www.auditory.org/postings/</a><u></u><u></u></p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal"><br> </p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal"><b>3] Reducing the amount of air travel for conferen= ces. <u></u> <u></u></b></p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">Yes, I know that networking is an essential part of = our job; however, can we try to reduce the number of miles we are traveling= each year? For example, during the next big conference (ASA or ARO) instea= d of having everyone going to the same city, can we organize the conference at two venues simultaneously: on= e on the East coast and one on the West? People would join the closest venu= e and talks would be transmitted via video conferences so that everybody ca= n attend all the presentations.<u></u><u></u></p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal"><br> </p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">These are of course just some suggestions. I am far = from having all the good solutions and ideas. I just hope that together we = can find some.<u></u><u></u></p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">=C2=A0Jeremy<u></u><u></u></p> <br> <p></p> <p><br> </p> <div id=3D"gmail-m_-2577007281320630005Signature"> <div id=3D"gmail-m_-2577007281320630005divtagdefaultwrapper" dir=3D"ltr" st= yle=3D"font-size:12pt;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Calibri,Helvetica,sans-s= erif,EmojiFont,"Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji",Not= oColorEmoji,"Segoe UI Symbol","Android Emoji",EmojiSymb= ols"> <p></p> <table border=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"0" cellpadding=3D"0" width=3D"400px" sty= le=3D"font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;border-collapse:collapse"> <tbody> <tr> <td width=3D"400px" colspan=3D"2" valign=3D"top" style=3D"font-weight:bold;= font-size:8pt;margin-bottom:0px"> Jeremy Marozeau</td> </tr> <tr> <td width=3D"400px" colspan=3D"2" valign=3D"top" style=3D"color:rgb(155,155= ,155);font-size:8pt;margin-bottom:0px"> Associate Professor</td> </tr> <tr> <td width=3D"400px" colspan=3D"2" valign=3D"top" style=3D"font-size:8pt;mar= gin-bottom:0px"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width=3D"400px" colspan=3D"2" valign=3D"top" style=3D"font-size:8pt;mar= gin-bottom:0px"> DTU Health Tech</td> </tr> <tr> <td width=3D"400px" colspan=3D"2" valign=3D"top" style=3D"font-size:8pt;lin= e-height:0px;border-bottom:1px solid rgb(174,174,174);padding-bottom:0px;pa= dding-top:0px;margin-top:0px"> =C2=A0</td> </tr> <tr> <td width=3D"350px" valign=3D"top" style=3D"padding-top:8px;vertical-align:= top"> <table width=3D"350px" border=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"0" cellpadding=3D"0" sty= le=3D"font-size:8pt;border-collapse:collapse"> <tbody> <tr> <td style=3D"width:350px;font-size:8pt;margin:0px;font-weight:bold">Technic= al University of Denmark</td> </tr> <tr> <td style=3D"font-size:8pt;margin:0px">Department of Health Technology</td> </tr> <tr> <td style=3D"font-size:8pt;margin:0px">=C3=98rsteds Plads</td> </tr> <tr> <td style=3D"font-size:8pt;margin:0px">Building 352, Room 124</td> </tr> <tr> <td style=3D"font-size:8pt;margin:0px">2800=C2=A0Kgs. Lyngby</td> </tr> <tr> <td style=3D"font-size:8pt;margin:0px">Direct +45 45254790</td> </tr> <tr style=3D"font-size:8pt;margin:0px"> <td><a href=3D"mailto:jemaroz@xxxxxxxx" id=3D"gmail-m_-2577007281320630005LPN= oLP" target=3D"_blank">jemaroz@xxxxxxxx</a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <br> <p></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </blockquote></div> --000000000000c524c8058383126b--