Annual-Report-2024 - Flipbook - Page 57
Eric Betzig
J. Georg Bednorz
Joao Cunha at the Next Gen Science Session
Hariom Jani
up to 500 times higher than copper. This characteristic
allows for more power to be transmitted through smaller
and more compact designs, reducing the need for materials and thus the overall environmental footprint.
Superconducting components can be remarkably efficient, making them ideal for various applications in the
energy sector.
Several researchers at #LINO24 are also working on
the next generation of technologies for the energy transition, and they presented their work at the Next Gen
Science Session “Physics-based Solutions to the Energy
Challenge”.
Joao Cunha, at the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Portugal, discussed a novel approach
for converting light into electricity. This differs from
traditional solar cells, which are limited in efficiency at
around 30%. The approach uses a rectifying antenna (or
rectenna) to capture light and convert it into almost stable electrical currents.
Hariom Jani, meanwhile, is looking at ways to make
computing more efficient. Computing is already producing around 2% of the world’s CO2 emissions, comparable
to the airline industry – and shows no sign of slowing
down. Jani is working on a system that would make
computing more efficient by “marrying” memory and
logic, achieving computation logic inside the memory
and reducing the energy required for common computational processes.
Perhaps the clearest example of how important this
energy transition is for many young researchers is an
impromptu presentation that happened at the end of the
session. This presentation referenced not only technological fixes, but also more direct approaches available to all
researchers. For instance, one such approach would be
incorporating it into grant or research applications.
The future of energy is both a daunting challenge and
a remarkable opportunity for human ingenuity – but it is
an urgent challenge for the present, not something that is
coming sometime in the future. By fostering innovation
and embracing cutting-edge technologies, we can build a
more sustainable and equitable world, ensuring that the
benefits of energy are accessible to all while safeguarding
our planet for future generations.
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