Wednesday, February 15, 2012
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
La Kretz Hall, Suite 300, Large conference room

About the Talk

The Green Industrial Revolution can mean reduced carbon emissions, healthier lifestyles, and new jobs from green industries.  Europe and Asia are already reaping the benefits of sustainable communities, smart green grids, and emerging environmentally sound technologies.  So why is America falling behind in innovation, technology, and environmental leadership?  Presenter Woody Clark, co-author of Global Energy Innovation: Why America Must Lead (Praeger 2011), examines this question and explains why the emerging Green Industrial Revolution is becoming the largest social and economic megatrend of the post-modern era.

The world’s oil supply and other cheap carbon-based fuels are dwindling; climate change and global warming constitute a growing environmental threat; obsolete energy sources, like nuclear, are often the cause of horrific disasters. When will America join the new industrial revolution that is already underway in Europe and Asia? America is trailing other parts of the developed world in terms of its development of—and commitment to—renewable energy. In Europe and Asia, sustainable communities, smart green grids, and emerging environmentally sound technologies are becoming common. The United States must move beyond the lethargy and defeatism of the 9/11 era, rediscover its ability to lead in technological inventiveness, and revitalize its economy via the creation of green jobs and sustainable, carbon-neutral communities. Because the lives of America’s children and grandchildren are at stake, America must act quickly.

"Global Energy Innovation: Why America Must Lead" explains why the emerging Third Industrial Revolution will become the largest social and economic megatrend of the post-modern era. With its comprehensive, up-to-date examination of renewable energy systems and related green technologies, this book represents a callto-action that will benefit any reader, regardless of their status as a lay person, scholar, or scientist. To read the official press release for the book click here.

About the Speaker

Dr. Clark, a long-time advocate for the environment and renewable energy, is an internationally recognized author, lecturer, public speaker and advisor specializing in sustainable communities. Dr. Clark was one of the contributing scientists to the work of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (UNIPCC), which as an organization was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in December 2007. His contribution was for work as the co-writer on Chapter 2 on Finance and Economics and the co-editor for Chapter 3 on Legal and Contracts. Currently, he is Academic Specialist, UCLA Provost Office and Cross-Disciplinary Scholars in Science and Technology.

In 2004, he founded, and now manages, Clark Strategic Partners (CSP), an environmental and renewable energy consulting firm using his political-economic expertise in order to guide, advice and implement public and private clients worldwide – specifically on sustainable smart green communities of all kinds ranging from colleges and universities to shopping malls, office buildings and film studios. Dr. Clarks’ five books and 50+ peer-reviewed articles reflect that concern for global sustainable communities. Clark teaches graduate courses in these areas in the USA and internationally as a Visiting Professor.

Prior to launching CSP, Dr. Clark was Senior Advisor on Renewable Energy, Emerging Technologies, and Finance to California Governor Gray Davis from 2000-2003. Before that from 1999-2000, he was a Visiting Professor of Science, Technology and Entrepreneurship at Aalborg University, Denmark, where he was a Fulbright Fellow in 1994. Dr. Clark was the Manager of Strategic Planning for Technology Transfer at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) for the University of California and U.S. Department of Energy, during the 1990s. In 1980, Dr. Clark founded a mass media company in San Francisco, CA, Clark Communications, specializing in the production and distribution of documentary and educational films focused on “social issues” such as “sexual harassment”, “health issues” and older workers  (baby boomers) along with other topics including books from dramatic current events.

Recently Dr. Clark gives talks, keynote addresses and lectures related to his applied academic work on climate change and sustainable communities for the US State Department including Africa, China and the EU. His next book is Global Energy Innovations about a “green” third industrial revolution (G3IR) from Praeger Press (November 2011).  Dr. Clark earned three different masters’ degrees from three  universities in Illinois and his Ph.D. at University of California, Berkeley. He lives with his wife and 4 year-old son in Southern California.

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