Past Events
January 18, 2012
The main organic component of gas shales is insoluble material referred to as kerogen, and the molecular composition of kerogen controls processes such as storage, transport, and fracturing. However, kerogen is not amenable to traditional chemical analyses, and current understanding of kerogen is limited. Here we describe novel methods for analyzing kerogen, recent results, and potential future insights.
January 17, 2012
We have just lived through a year of "weird weather", with a record dozen disasters causing over a billion-plus dollars in damages -- and this is just in the U.S.. The Boston Globe and other media has written that weather is just "unpredictable", a period of "bad luck", an exaggerated El Nino: are they right? Is the weather unpredictable, or is it a pattern that we need to better understand?
January 17, 2012
The origin of shale formations will be described. Source rock organic matter is clearly differentiated based on sedimentary origin. Following deposition, the organic matter matures in accord with its burial history, and this determines the nature of the resource. It will be seen that the distribution of shale resources on a continental scale can be explained by a few simple principles.
January 17, 2012
This class, cosponsored by Knight Science Journalism at MIT, focuses on the production of several short videos about climate change, meant for web distribution. The goal will be to explore, visualize or enliven topics around climate science with visual/dramatic originality, surprise, suspense or humor. Reaching a broad audience is the intent.
January 12, 2012
Climate change has become an important policy issue facing society and will continue to be long into the future. This talk will explore the basic science at the foundation of this complex issue, with the goal that audience members will leave equipped with the most basic physical logic for why anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions are expected to significantly alter our climate.
Led by Dan Chavas and Daniel Rotherberg
January 09, 2012
Speaker: Jonathan Kane Shell Oil Company, Detlef Hohl, Jim Pickens, Tom Holly
Seismic imaging is the principal method used to explore for hydrocarbons in the earth. It involves using sensors to record the response of the earth to an input source of energy, converting the raw data into an image of subsurface structures, and then interpreting the image to find oil-bearing deposits. We will cover the basics of seismic imaging over the course of 3 days, with 3 hours of instruction per day, along with in-class exercises. Lunch will be provided.