Title: Crafting a Technology Roadmap Towards Energy Security and Environmental Sustainability in Singapore: Beginning the Journey

Date: Tuesday, 23 February 2010
Time: 3.30pm – 5pm
Venue: Seminar Rooms 2 and 3, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, S4, Level B4

Speaker: Dr Cheng-Guan Michael Quah, Principal Fellow, Energy Studies Institute (ESI), National University of Singapore
Chairperson: Associate Professor Mely Caballero-Anthony, Head, RSIS Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies

Abstract: The technology roadmap asserts that technology is an absolutely necessary but totally insufficient condition to addressing the challenges that we face in energy security in an increasing carbon-constrained world, even as we continue to pursue economic development at a breakneck speed, as reflected in the rapidly growing economies in the region. Fossil energy remains a fuel reality over the next few decades but how we transition to a future of alternative and renewable energy (including nuclear energy) will revolve around the critical challenges in our understanding of ‘systems of systems’ interaction on the use of ‘low energy density’ sources. The seminar presentation is a compilation of excerpts from a final report that Dr Michael Quah worked on during a short-term assignment with the Energy Studies Institute (ESI) in Singapore. Dr Quah has since joined the ESI as a Principal Fellow. This talk is a reprise of an Energy Studies Institute – Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ESI-ISEAS) seminar held on 7 December, 2009.

About the speaker:

Dr Michael Quah is currently a Principal Fellow at the ESI, National University of Singapore. He has a PhD (1980), MPhil and MSc, in chemical engineering from Yale University and a BA (magna cum laude) in chemistry and physics, from Harvard.

Dr Quah worked for the DuPont Company from 1979 to 1999, including stints with DuPont Japan and Singapore (1990-1993). At DuPont, Dr Quah held positions in R&D, product and business development, and management. His technical work revolved around membrane technologies for reverse osmosis, gas separations, and electrochemical processes; the last area stimulating his interest in alternative energy innovations. While working for DuPont in North Carolina (1993-1999), he also served as Adjunct Professor in Chemical Engineering, at North Carolina State University. After his early retirement from DuPont, he held management positions in several small commercial companies and non-profit organisations, including a stint with the US Army.

Dr Quah has lectured extensively in the following areas: Nafion® and perfluorinated ionomers for use in electrochemical systems (electrolysis, redox flow cells, and fuel cells), membrane separations, micro-grids, and energy / environmental sustainability.

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Please click here for Dr Quah’s curriculum vitae at the ESI’s website.
Please click here for more information on the ESI.