Between the forecasted doubling of demand for energy by 2030 and stark constraints of technology to push alternative energy sources to the forefront by then is a gap. A big one.

Three University of Michigan experts in social sciences will explore the role of social innovations in filling that gap between energy technologies and the demand for clean energy.

Ӣ Irv Salmeen, Center for the Study of Complex Systems, explores the struggle between physical laws which tell us how much work we can do with a pile of coal, and human choices which dictate how fast to burn it.

Ӣ Stephanie Preston, Psychology, focuses on how the evolution and structure of the brain limit our ability to be green and how interventions can work with (rather than against) these pre-existing biases.

Ӣ Ryan Kellogg, Economics, discusses individual economic choices as cheap fossil fuels face off against clean energy innovations.

David Featherman (CARSS–Center for Advancing Research and Solutions for Society) will moderate. Discussion will follow.