Cultural References as a means of providing exergy literacy Kai Whiting Instituto Técnico Lisboa

Exploring Science Fiction, Scientific Fiction as a way into the Science Kuhn Science Future Policy Creativity Change Sci-fi Scientific fiction Culture

THE SCIENCE: Language of the Gods In the beginning was Exergy, and Exergy was with the Scientists, and the Exergy was the Scientists - Elsevier Journal 1.1 (written at the beginning of time).

Questions of the MERE MORTALS So what is exergy again? What does that mean? What do you want me to do about it? Sorry can you just repeat what you just said… from the beginning?

The role of Sci-Fi and Other Cultural References in Making Exergy Mainstream

Rock Music 2nd law Muse’s sixth album. Lyrics include to their song “Unsustainable”: New energy cannot be created and high-grade energy is being destroyed An economy based on endless growth is unsustainable

Literature

Sci-Fi Cinema

Scientific Fiction: The importance of Thanatia Planet modelled on an Earth where no commercial activities occur but which has not reached its physical death. All commercially viable fuel and non-fuel mineral deposits have been extracted and then burnt or used to meet non-energy societal demands

Thanatia: Thermodynamic Assessment Reference baseline that allows for the evaluation of mineral wealth and its subsequent exhaustion due to certain extractive activities and conventional economic perspectives that see growth as infinite. Exergy cost of reversing the extractive process to quantitatively evaluate the effort, or energy (exergy), needed to re-concentrate extracted mineral wealth via reversible processes or current best available technology.

Grave to Cradle Analysis

This leaves one fundamental question unanswered…

And is that a bad British joke or a call to action? In light of Brexit, can we achieve exergy literacy or anything else for that matter? And is that a bad British joke or a call to action?

The Call We have to come together as exergy researchers to work with politicians, the private sector and the general public. We have to put our status/job title aside and make the first move on their terms and in language they understand.

What exactly does society need from us? Common language and definitions Real science, not greenwash Popular science books, not just journals Growth mindset

Challenges We Face as Exergy Practitioners… Peer pressure - can’t dumb down things or simplify as then you are not a REAL scientist. Science communication - we are scientists not social media marketers Scientists and engineers don’t even use exergy Lack of patience - New science, public has had 30 years to get used to ozone, CFCs and GHGs Potential lack of funding – other research areas are “sexier”

What do you think? Practical Solutions…