{"id":71,"date":"2025-12-08T23:35:41","date_gmt":"2025-12-08T23:35:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.www.purdue.edu\/operations\/nuclear\/?page_id=71"},"modified":"2025-12-19T18:20:53","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T18:20:53","slug":"lester-lecture","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/operations\/nuclear\/home\/duke\/lester-lecture\/","title":{"rendered":"Lester Lecture"},"content":{"rendered":"<div  class=\"section \">\n    <div class=\"container\">\n                \n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tough Tech&#8217; for Climate: Innovation Challenges, University Responsibilities and Some Comments on the Nuclear Role<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-aged-gold-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-2e582065127c9f60d782a6cd471abe1b\"><em>Understanding Tomorrow&#8217;s Nuclear Energy<\/em>&nbsp;lecture series<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:20px\"><strong>Nov. 30, 3:30-5 p.m.<\/strong><br><strong>Stewart Center Fowler Hall<\/strong><br>Presented by&nbsp;Dr. Richard K. Lester, associate provost of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"purdue-home-video-embed \">\n        <div class=\"section has-none-background\">\n        <div class=\"container is-16by9\">\n            \n            <div class=\"purdue-home-cta-card purdue-home-cta-card--horizontal purdue-home-cta-card--video\">\n    <div class=\"image is-16by9\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"purdue-home-background-image\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/operations\/nuclear\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/11\/PEDLS_11.30_RichardKLester-52-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n            <\/div>\n    <div class=\"flex-container flex-container--align-center lyt-playbtn\">\n        <button class=\"playbtn\">\n            <span class=\"cta-link purdue-home-cta-card__link\">Watch Video<\/span>\n            <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"cta-icon cta-icon--play\" src=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/operations\/nuclear\/wp-content\/themes\/purdue-home-theme\/imgs\/play_icon_gold.svg\" alt=\"\">\n        <\/button>                                       \n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"iframe-container is-sr-only\">\n        <div class=\"youtube-video\" id=\"_w5l-SWT68U\" data-title=\"PEDLS_11.30_RichardKLester-52\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_w5l-SWT68U?rel=0&#038;autoplay=1&#038;enablejsapi=1&#038;mute=1&#038;origin=https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\"><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:18px\">The Understanding Tomorrow\u2019s Nuclear Energy lecture series hosted by Purdue University and Duke Energy is partnering with the Purdue Engineering Distinguished Lecture Series to host Dr. Richard K. Lester, who will present&nbsp;\u201cTough Tech\u2019 for Climate: Innovation Challenges, University Responsibilities, and Some Comments on the Nuclear Role\u201d followed by a panel discussion.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dr. Lester\u2019s lecture looks at how responding effectively to the global climate challenge will require the rapid deployment of tools and technologies we have now and will also require inventing, developing, and deploying tools and technologies not yet in hand. What are the special responsibilities of research universities in meeting the climate innovation challenge? This presentation will discuss different ways for universities to engage in climate-related research, education, and innovation, including the case of nuclear energy technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:18px\">Panel discussion participants include&nbsp;<strong>Dr. Lefteri Tsoukalas<\/strong>, professor and former head of the School of Nuclear Engineering, and&nbsp;<strong>Ms. Morgan Smith<\/strong>, senior in the School of Nuclear Engineering, president of Purdue Chapter of Women in Nuclear Engineering and vice president of Purdue Chapter of American Nuclear Society.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-aged-gold-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-64ac8101fbe6d7242ee6f6017c3389ae\">Post-lecture summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:18px\">According to Dr. Lester, there are two \u201ctracks\u201d that must be pursued to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. One track is to go forward as far and fast as we can with the technologies and policies we have now. The other track is to invest in, invent and deploy new technologies and tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:18px\">\u201cBy some estimates, 50% of the reductions in carbon emissions that will be needed to get to net zero will require technologies that are not yet in hand,\u201d he said in his lecture at Purdue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:18px\">But universities have a special responsibility in making these technologies a reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:18px\">\u201cResearch universities can help solve hard problems requiring forefront science and cutting-edge technology,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:18px\">Dr. Lester mentioned several other ways that universities are unique in their ability to address climate change. One way is through shrinking a campus\u2019s carbon footprint. As an example, he pointed out a study Purdue and Duke Energy are conducting. This study is investigating the potential of using advanced nuclear reactor technology to power Purdue\u2019s campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:18px\">Universities can also make a difference through supporting the climate-related efforts of local communities, providing industrial partners with new tools and methods for decarbonization, and using factual information and analyses to advise new policy and regulatory frameworks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:18px\">Dr. Lester believes that nuclear energy will be essential to both existing and new technologies. \u201cCan we achieve net zero emissions without nuclear? Nothing is impossible, but having looked at many, many assessments of this question, my conclusion \u2013 as well as the conclusion of many other people \u2013 is that the contribution of nuclear energy is going to be extraordinarily important,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:18px\">In a panel discussion with Dr. Tsoukalas and Ms. Smith following his lecture, Dr. Lester said that the speed at which research discoveries can be used affects how quickly climate change is addressed. Improving how research is organized, such as by bringing practitioners into the research process earlier, could accelerate the flow of new technical knowledge into practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:18px\">\u201cWe just need to get smarter about doing things faster, maybe making some mistakes along the way,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:18px\">The panelists also pointed out the need for nuclear engineers to engage more with policymakers. They discussed how younger generations, which will likely be impacted the most by climate change, tend to have a more positive attitude toward nuclear energy than previous generations. This attitude will help nuclear technology to reach its potential for curbing greenhouse gas emissions.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"purdue-home-tabs has-black-background\"><div class=\"section has-padding-top-large has-padding-bottom-large\"><div class=\"container\"><div class=\"columns\"><div class=\"column is-5\"><div class=\"arrow\"><\/div><h2 class=\"tagged-header tagged-header--gold\">Learn More About<\/h2><div class=\"purdue-home-tabs__headers\" role=\"tablist\"><button id=\"header-fd00b00d-e6b5-4644-a3f7-c0661c307550-0\" class=\"purdue-home-tabs__header  active\" role=\"tab\" aria-controls=\"panel-fd00b00d-e6b5-4644-a3f7-c0661c307550-0\"><h3 class=\"purdue-home-tabs__header-text\">Dr. Richard K. Lester<\/h3><\/button><\/div><\/div><div class=\"column is-7\">\n<div class=\"purdue-home-tabs__panel active\" aria-labelledby=\"header-fd00b00d-e6b5-4644-a3f7-c0661c307550-0\" id=\"panel-fd00b00d-e6b5-4644-a3f7-c0661c307550-0\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:35% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"288\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/operations\/nuclear\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/12\/richard-lester.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-341 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/operations\/nuclear\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/12\/richard-lester.png 288w, https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/operations\/nuclear\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/12\/richard-lester-225x300.png 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 288px) 100vw, 288px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As associate provost of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dr. Lester oversees the international activities of the Institute. Dr. Lester is the Japan Steel Industry Professor of Nuclear Science and Engineering and previously served as head of the MIT Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering. Professor Lester\u2019s research focuses on innovation, productivity and industrial competitiveness, and he is also well known for his work on nuclear technology management and policy. He recently completed a term as chair of the National Academies\u2019 Board on Science, Technology, and Economic Policy, and he currently serves as chair of the Council of Advisors of the Global Forum on Nuclear Education, Science, Technology, and Policy.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"parent":8,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-71","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/operations\/nuclear\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/71","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/operations\/nuclear\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/operations\/nuclear\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/operations\/nuclear\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/operations\/nuclear\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=71"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/operations\/nuclear\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/71\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":359,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/operations\/nuclear\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/71\/revisions\/359"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/operations\/nuclear\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/operations\/nuclear\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=71"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}