American Engineers save the World – Again

[Traveler]

If you are interested in building a modern contemporary home, you might be interested is some of the newest advancements in technology. Currently solar power is available through silicon based panel technology. This technology is about 6% effective which means that as far as costs per unit of electrical power it is not viable. It cost a lot more than using the power off the grid.

Not too along ago photo electrical cells had been placed on polymer based plastics that is a little more effective. By using both technologies and tuning each to different wave lengths of light we can more than double the amount of electricity produced or about 12 to 15 percent efficient without significantly increasing the cost of production. But still this is not cost effective. Never the less sever large solar farms are being constructed with this technology in Europe and Asia.

But now there is even newer technology that will not be ready for commercial use for 3 to 5 years. This technology is carbon based utilizing what is known as carbon nano-tubes. This is an out growth of carbon buckyballs discovered about 25 years ago. Because nano-tubes are super thin, this photo electric substance can be painted on to objects and place on almost clear windows. But better yet is the fact that this substance can utilize a wide spectrum of light for energy. This new technology can easily be over 30 percent effective and can compete with hydro electrical generation.

Using just this new technology we could tap into 10,000 times more power than we are currently using and it would be cheaper. 60 to 75 % cheaper. I am amazed that with the contributions to better living engineers are not better respected in the USA by the average citizens. Our education system has decided that engineers are not worth educating – at least in this country. 50 years ago the world’s top engineering were Americans educated in America. Today the USA produces fewer engineers than any other industrialized nation. The 3rd world economy of India seem more interested in Engineers than the USA is.

The Traveler

[Flyonthewall]

Sounds promising. I hope to hear more about it's successfull uses in the near future!

[WANDERER]

2007 article here
Technology Review: Cheap Nano Solar Cells

Certainly sounds interesting.

[Moksha]

If it is anything like blu-ray, give it 15 years and it will be on the shelves.

[WANDERER]

The regional map for Blu-Ray bothers me.

[sixpacktr]

Originally Posted by Traveler

Using just this new technology we could tap into 10,000 times more power than we are currently using and it would be cheaper. 60 to 75 % cheaper. I am amazed that with the contributions to better living engineers are not better respected in the USA by the average citizens. Our education system has decided that engineers are not worth educating – at least in this country. 50 years ago the world’s top engineering were Americans educated in America. Today the USA produces fewer engineers than any other industrialized nation. The 3rd world economy of India seem more interested in Engineers than the USA is.

The Traveler

One reason, Traveler, is that our education system is no longer interested in educating our children in things that will help them compete in today's highly competitive workforce. Instead they teach them how America is the scourge of the world, how to put a condom on a cuke, how to feel 'good' about themselves, how to build a website, the hoax of global warming. With all of the social issues crap they teach, they have no time to teach them math, science, reading, etc. I hear that this will be the first generation that cannot count on having a better lifestyle than their parents, and they blame it on many things other than the fact our kids aren't getting the education they need to compete in a very competitive world.

I work for a company that is global, and we have many engineers from India and China working for us. Which worries me. Where is the talent base for the US? When (not if, but when) we finally do go to war with the communists in China, we're going to need engineers and other highly educated individuals to help us with the technology. But where will they be? Instead of teaching children in school the skills needed to compete, we have allowed them to be taught that they need to be 'socially conscious' and 'earth friendly'.

[Elgama]

I think part of the problem is that boys are not encouraged in school I know that in the UK boys do not usually do well at school - it has been shown they do better when they are in single sex classes...

-Charley

[Traveler]

Originally Posted by sixpacktr

One reason, Traveler, is that our education system is no longer interested in educating our children in things that will help them compete in today's highly competitive workforce. Instead they teach them how America is the scourge of the world, how to put a condom on a cuke, how to feel 'good' about themselves, how to build a website, the hoax of global warming. With all of the social issues crap they teach, they have no time to teach them math, science, reading, etc. I hear that this will be the first generation that cannot count on having a better lifestyle than their parents, and they blame it on many things other than the fact our kids aren't getting the education they need to compete in a very competitive world.

I work for a company that is global, and we have many engineers from India and China working for us. Which worries me. Where is the talent base for the US? When (not if, but when) we finally do go to war with the communists in China, we're going to need engineers and other highly educated individuals to help us with the technology. But where will they be? Instead of teaching children in school the skills needed to compete, we have allowed them to be taught that they need to be 'socially conscious' and 'earth friendly'.

We still educate the best doctors (medical) and business but for some reason engineers are not consider a "glamour" profession. Even Hollywood plays up the medical and business professionals but is unable to create an interesting and accurate engineer. Engineers are not the only such profession - When was the last good movie made that gave an accurate and interesting military character (that was not trying to take over the world). We are making villains of our most important professions.

I think our society values and glamorizes a citizen on welfare more than a military or engineering professional. Can anyone tell me why?

One thing I find interesting is that every time I go for jury duty as soon as the trial lawyers find out I am an engineer working as a scientist – I am the first person eliminated from an opportunity to serve. In religious settings engineers are considered to be almost anti religious. So I ask you that are not engineers – what about us frightens you?
The Traveler

[sixpacktr]

Originally Posted by Traveler

We still educate the best doctors (medical) and business but for some reason engineers are not consider a "glamour" profession. Even Hollywood plays up the medical and business professionals but is unable to create an interesting and accurate engineer. Engineers are not the only such profession - When was the last good movie made that gave an accurate and interesting military character (that was not trying to take over the world). We are making villains of our most important professions.

I think our society values and glamorizes a citizen on welfare more than a military or engineering professional. Can anyone tell me why?

One thing I find interesting is that every time I go for jury duty as soon as the trial lawyers find out I am an engineer working as a scientist – I am the first person eliminated from an opportunity to serve. In religious settings engineers are considered to be almost anti religious. So I ask you that are not engineers – what about us frightens you?
The Traveler

We may educate the best doctors, but how many of those are foreigners? My wife is currently pursuing a degree in the dental field, and there are a LOT of foreigners (Chinese, Indians, Africans, etc) in those programs. I would wager that we do 'educate' the best engineers still, but again, how many true American kids are in those programs? More and more those positions are being filled by foreign kids.

You are right about this. The last interesting engineer was 'McGiver' (at least according to Patty and Selma). Remember Mr Wizard? Bill Nye the Science Guy?

Now we have entire channels devoted to 'gaming'....what a waste of time...

[Traveler]

Originally Posted by sixpacktr

We may educate the best doctors, but how many of those are foreigners? My wife is currently pursuing a degree in the dental field, and there are a LOT of foreigners (Chinese, Indians, Africans, etc) in those programs. I would wager that we do 'educate' the best engineers still, but again, how many true American kids are in those programs? More and more those positions are being filled by foreign kids.

You are right about this. The last interesting engineer was 'McGiver' (at least according to Patty and Selma). Remember Mr Wizard? Bill Nye the Science Guy?

Now we have entire channels devoted to 'gaming'....what a waste of time...

Trust me - we are falling behind in engineering. We have always had foreigners coming to American schools. The difference now is that the top engineering students of Europe and Asia do not come to America. And the students that do come - from industrialized nations in their bottom 25% - are far more prepared and are doing much better than the American students.

As I posted, there is a lack of interest in American society with educating the best engineers and scientist. Even in religious circles engineers and scientist are almost considered heretics. Few business want Engineers involved in the board of directors, there are almost no engineers in politics – I know we are not a social lot but there would be no modern society without us. Many other professions have not advanced that much and do not contribute to the diversity of economy as do the scientist and engineers.

And in things like global warming we are just as likely (or more so) to be misquoted as utilized. Most people are more interested in what they want to believe or how to make a living with what they know than what is beneficial.

It all reminds me of a farmer that sent his son off to college and when the son graduated the son came home to help the father before starting his new job in the fall. Looking at what was going on around the farm the son started to make suggestions. The father soon indicated he was not interested in what the son had to contribute. In frustration the son asked, “Don’t you want to improve your farming methods?”

The father responded, “You do not understand – I already know, and have known for most of my life, how to improve my farming methods.”

The Traveler