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For information on the on the 2008 Student Speech Contest, please scroll down
On April 19th,2007, CARE held its final competition for the Statewide Student Speech Contest featuring the six winners of the regional Statewide Student Speech Contest. These students, two each from UNM, NMT, and NMSU, had already competed with other students from their individual schools and have each won scholarship monies for their winning presentations. They were tasked with offing insight to today’s energy dilemmas while presenting a focus argument explaining an issue that is generally unknown or misunderstood by the public.
All six finalists gave their presentations before a panel of judges made up of industry leaders, government representatives, professional speakers and civic group decision makers. The audience, media and judges were impressed with the students’ abilities in front of an audience—especially in a competitive setting—and with their skill in communicating their passion in a comprehendible way. Not a one of them read their speech or used any discernable notes.
Now these students are available to your group! If you are in need of a speaker for your civic group, please consider inviting one of these students—or invite one each month! They will bring “energy” to your group, encouraging public dialogue as they share fresh insights. CARE has recordings of their presentations available. Interested parties can contact CARE’s Executive Director at marita@responsiblenergy.org.
The winning presenters and their topics are:
The Evolution of Energy Supplies and Demand
Enrique Irigoyen, Electrical Engineering, Masters Program, NMSU
Affordable energy resources are essential to our national economic development, yet forecasting future energy trends is nearly impossible. In this speech will present a brief history of energy consumption in America, and I will highlight past trends. I will also speak on the economic, political, and technological advances that will shape America's energy future.
Green Building Technologies
Jonathan Gardner, Management Major, NMT
Jonathan will be available in Nebraska fall 2008
Have we reached a point where we can no longer reduce our energy use without reducing our standard of living? Green building technologies have the potential to alter that trade off. This presentation will examine the amount of energy used in buildings. Then, "green building technologies" will be defined and categorized. Many green building technologies are already in use, and some examples will be given of situations where these technologies have been embraced. There are challenges facing the advance of green building technologies, but the interplay between green building technologies and the law can help overcome them. We can embrace green building technologies. We can do this!
Watt We’re Wasting
Teandra Evans, Nuclear Engineering Major, UNM
Teandra is now in Indiana.
Energy, Poverty and the Future
Mohammad Ghassemi, Electrical Engineering, Applied Mathematics and Bio Chemistry Majors, NMSU
What is the connection between filling up our gas tank and people who are starving around the globe? Would you believe me if I told you that I had an idea to take on global poverty? For this presentation I will present the connection between poverty and energy across the globe. I will also discuss the future of energy resources and the delicate balance we face when looking at energy and the environment for America and the rest of the world. It's crucial that every person on the face of this planet know that there is a balance which is within our grasp, and that mankind, with all of our intellect and all our ingenuity can surly achieve that balance.
How Dangerous Is Radiation?
John McCulloch, Nuclear Engineering Major, UNM
Did you know that flight attendants are exposed to more radiation annually than a nuclear engineer? The purpose of this presentation is to explain the facts of nuclear energy and its wastes, demonstrating that nuclear power presents a powerful opportunity to kick our oil addiction while safely, cleanly, cheaply and efficiently providing the energy that our national and global economies demand.
Gas-to-Liquid Technology: An Alternative to Flaring Natural Gas
Thomas Erbes, Chemical Engineering Major, NMT
Thomas is now in the Seattle area.
Through this speech contest, CARE aims to raise awareness for New Mexico’s position as a leader in fulfilling America’s energy needs. Most New Mexicans are unaware of the fact that we are a major player in the national energy community.
The CARE Statewide Student Speech Contest was open to all college students but specifically targeted juniors and sophomores in the chemical or petroleum engineering majors. In addition to the targeted fields, the students who have entered come from a variety of majors including management, and nuclear engineering. CARE provided the students with a list of proposed topics to give them inspiration but students have developed their own ideas.
CARE: Citizens’ Alliance for Responsible Energy
State-wide Student Speech Competition Overview
“Embrace Scholarship”
Embrace the Earth~Embrace Energy
Fall 2008
The average citizen has no idea how important energy is to our state and nation. The public is bombarded with news reports that talk about the negative impacts of fossil fuels and the need for clean energy. Unfortunately, reality is a lot more complicated. While fossil fuels do have a downside, they also have an upside—as in giving us every modern necessity and convenience. Our world is completely reliant on them and will be for decades to come. This reality is rarely discussed or appreciated. Additionally, while we all want to see renewable energy sources take on a much larger role in our lives, we need to realize that those energy sources currently face great limitations and that they, too, have negative impacts.
At CARE, we believe the public should clearly understand energy reality, so that people are not deceived by wishful thinking, propaganda or simply incomplete reporting. Our economy, quality of life and national security are directly tied to the nation’s ability to produce energy. Aside from a direct threat of violence on our nation, nothing is more important.
The CARE Student Speech Competition is open to all college students—but is targeting juniors and sophomores in the chemical and/or petroleum engineering departments at UNM, NMSU and NMT. A “qualifying” or regional round will be held at each school in the fall of 2008. Two students from each school will be awarded the opportunity to move to the final competition and will receive $1000 in “Embrace Scholarship” funds. The final competition will be held several weeks later and the grand prize winner will receive the $5000 Embrace Scholarship.
CARE: Citizens’ Alliance for Responsible Energy
State-wide Student Speech Competition Parameters
“Energy Reality”
General Requirements
• 20 minutes in length (not including Q & A)
• Present a focused argument on Energy Reality that explains in depth an issue that is generally unknown or misunderstood by the public.
• The presentation must be congruent with CARE’s stated mission – to educate the public about the critically important energy issues the nation faces today. Most importantly, that access to abundant, affordable energy is the foundation of America’s security, success and quality of life.
• Strike at the heart of one aspect of energy, causing the listener to say, “Wow, I didn’t know that.”
• PowerPoint may be used, but is not required
Potential Speech Examples
1. Even the Word “Energy” is Misunderstood
• There are two fundamental forms of energy, electricity and liquid fuels for transportation.
• Talking about energy in a generic sense confuses people about the challenges we face, i.e. there are no solar or wind-powered airplanes, trains or tractor trailers
• Draw a distinction between these two energy requirements
• Describe one or more transportation solutions (For example, plug-in hybrids, which transfer energy use from oil to the electrical grid)
2. Not Developing Energy also has an Impact
• Activists, media and politicians often draw attention to the consequences of development. Consequences of any responsible development must be considered. However, choosing not to develop energy also comes with a set of consequences. This idea is rarely considered.
• Consequences of not developing energy include:
Increased national trade imbalance; Higher costs for energy; American jobs sent overseas due to a loss of competitiveness; Decreased state revenues; Decreased energy security
3. Nothing is More Important than Energy
• Without energy security there is no national security
• Modern society has advanced to the point that a significant majority of the population does not possess the skills necessary to survive even a matter of weeks without sufficient supplies of electricity and liquid fuels
• Energy is the lifeblood and connective tissue of America. A sudden and significant loss of energy that lasted for more than a week or two would likely lead to anarchy
• Energy to society is like food to the human body—nothing matters if you do not have it
4. Can Energy Be Too Cheap?
• What is the real cost of energy by historical standards?
• Deeply discounted energy creates a unique set of problems and a sense of entitlement
• Appropriately priced energy creates a natural incentive to conserve
• Conservation of any resource always begins at the lower end of the economic scale (Politicians’ desire to help poorer people with their energy needs actually undercuts the motivation to conserve)
5. Other possible topics could be:
• What Would Life Be like In A Reduced Energy Environment?
• Do We have A Right to Affordable Energy?
• The Not-In-My-Backyard (NIMBY) Factor
• Are Environmentalism and Energy Mutually Exclusive?
6. Entrants are free to develop their own topics
For more information or to get involved, please contact:
Marita Noon, Executive Director
CARE: Citizens’ Alliance for Responsible Energy
505.239.8998 or marita@responsiblenergy.org
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