• Question: Do you think that we need power stations in the world today? what are your views?

    Asked by aparker to Suzi, Tim on 24 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Suzi Gage

      Suzi Gage answered on 24 Jun 2011:

      Hi @aparker
      Great question!
      I think we use a lot of energy, and it’s got to come from somewhere. In an ideal world we would not have power stations that pollute the environment and do more damage, but until we come up with a better solution life as we know it needs the energy.

      What are your opinions on this?

Comments

  • Photo: aparker

    aparker commented on :

    I agree with you. I think however, that we should use wind, water and solar to power things at the moment, as you never know, we might need fossil fuels for something much more important than electricity in the future. Another question: Why don’t people use wind, water and solar power now?

  • Photo: Suzi

    Suzi commented on :

    Hi @aparker

    I completely agree with you – it would make a lot of sense to use renewable energy. To answer your question though, these technologies are quite expensive to initially set up – and so as we are in a recession the Government have not made it a priority. Also, some of these ‘environmentally friendly’ power sources can damage the environment in other ways. For example local to me in Bristol is the river Severn – and a great amount of energy could be produced if a Severn Barrage was built. However, the area where it would be built has a lot of unique wildlife and is a protected nature reserve, so if the barrage was built this habitat would be destroyed, potentially putting species at risk.

    This is why these choices can often be so difficult!

  • Photo: aparker

    aparker commented on :

    Thanks Suzi, I understand now. I am just confuzed to why the Goverment are not doing anything about the problem that we have. Anyway, congratulations on winning! you deserved it! What is the money going towards?

    • Photo: Suzi

      Suzi commented on :

      Thank you @aparker!!! I am going to spend the money on making podcasts – it’ll go on recording equipment, and travel to interview scientists about their research. The podcasts will be about our current knowledge of the effects of ‘recreational’ drugs, both illegal ones, and ones like tobacco and alcohol!

      And I completely agree that the Government should be doing more!

  • Photo: Suzi

    Suzi commented on :

    Hm, this year for the beginning of my PhD I’ve been doing 3 ten week projects. In my first one I found a link between the weight a mother puts on while pregnant and the intelligence of her child, which was pretty exciting. My PhD itself I think will help people with psychosis and depression, if we understand better how cannabis affects mental health we can better educate people! What do you think?