Book description
In their book Nicola Armaroli, Vincenzo Balzani and Nick Serpone
uncover the background details associated with a transition to
sustainable energy production that are routinely swept under the table
in public discussions. They are not only concerned with the (alleged)
advantages and disadvantages of any one energy generation technology
from a technical viewpoint, but also with the ecological, economic,
political and social consequences of an inevitable transition.
In a highly readable manner aimed at an international audience, the
authors introduce the often misused and sometimes abused term
"energy" and give a lucid account of the development of energy
production from timber to nuclear energy. They compare various energy
generation methods with respect to their efficiency and practicability
for large-scale implementation and examine if, and how, these methods
live up to the expectations and promises their proponents make. In
addition, the authors juxtapose the political and economic prerequisites
in different regions of the world that advance, or hinder, an energy
turnaround. They round off their book by debunking the eighteen most
popular myths often cited in discussions on energy issues.
As a result, the authors provide ammunition for debate, underpin (and
unsettle) opinions using facts, and challenge comfortable and popular
chains of reasoning.
Nicola Armaroli is Research Director in the Italian National Research
Council (CNR) at the University of Bologna, Italy. He obtained in PhD in
chemical sciences in 1994 and was post-doc at the Center for
Photochemical Sciences at Bowling Green State University, Ohio, USA. His
current research is concerned with the photochemistry and photophysics
of coordination compounds, carbon nanostructures and supramolecular
materials, with focus on luminescence and photoinduced energy- and
electron-transfer. This work is of interest both in fundamental science
and technological applications, such as solar energy conversion and
lighting devices.
Vincenzo Balzani is Professor Emeritus at the University of Bologna
where has been doing research and teaching in chemistry since 1973. He
was visiting Professor in Canada, Israel, France and Belgium, headed
various scientific committees and institutes and has held over 300
lectures worldwide. Alongside his membership of several editorial
boards, Vincenzo Balzani has six books and more than 500 papers to his
name. His research interests include photochemistry, photophysics,
supramolecular chemistry, electron transfer reactions, molecular-level
devices and machines, molecular nanotechnology, and photochemical solar
energy conversion.
Nick Serpone is Professor Emeritus and Visiting Professor at the
University of Pavia, Italy. As a senior academic and research scientist
in organic and photochemistry, program manager and industry consultant
with extensive North American and international experience, he has an
intimate knowledge of the working relationships between academia,
industry and government agencies in various countries. Nick Serpone is a
prolific editor and contributor to numerous books and journals, with
over 360 papers published in a variety of prestigious journals. Nick
Serpone is a frequent Keynote Address Speaker and Invited Plenary
Lecturer.
