The Power of Wind

Chris Scott is Professor of Space and Atmospheric Physics at the University of Reading.

His research focuses on space weather, with a particular interest in solar wind and coronal mass ejections but he also talks about wind and weather patterns here on Earth.

Chris   has worked for the Science and Technology Facilities Council in Oxfordshire, leading the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) - Heliospheric Imagers. In partnership with NASA, Scott coordinated the 2006 launch of the twin STEREO rockets. The STEREO spacecraft analyse discharge from the Sun. The mission’s aim was to spot any mass and energy emitted from the Sun which could penetrate the Earth and interfere with technology. Energy emitted from the Sun, officially known as coronal mass ejection, is vast clouds of ionised gas. Each CME may carry 1,000,000,000 tonnes of gas into space at speeds that can approach 2000 km/s. CME disrupts the flow of solar wind. The two STEREO spacecraft circle the Sun, gathering images.

In 2014 Chris lead research in solar winds and lightning. His research, published in the Journal of Environmental Letter, suggested that solar winds can increase lightening on Earth. 

Nathalie Miebach is a Boston based artist who converts ecological data into complex music and sculptures. 

When she studied physics and astronomy she found herself fascinated, especially by astronomy and wanted to learn more. Her interest in space was quickly hampered by her inability to go out and actually experience it. So she decided to use the weather, somewhat influenced by activity in space, as a new way to channel her creative impulses. In 2000 Nathalie first started using meteorological data to produce art. For four years she collected weather data and created complex helix sculptures and installations. Despite being unable to read music, in 2009 Nathalie started to use the same data to produce musical scores. She works in collaboration with a collection of musicians and composers. Her sculptures therefore act as both visual works of art, and musical notations and she is interested in how art can represent science in interesting and intriguing ways and also how science might learn from artistic interpretation.

Professor Max Platzer is a mechanical and aerospace engineer. In 1995 Professor Platzer was made Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. He taught aeronautics and astronautics at the institution for more than thirty four years. He  is Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of California Davis.

Professor Platzer’s research interests are relatively widespread. His studies focus on: fluid mechanics; gas dynamics; aeroelasticity; flight mechanics; aerodynamics and propulsion.

Professor Platzer has enjoyed a long and respectable carer in academia. However his early career contained some significant work for NASA. Platzer spent six years working with renowned German engineer, Wernher von Braun. There, Platzer helped to develop the Saturn-V rocket. The Saturn-V (pro Saturn 5) was in use by the Americans from 1966-73. It launched SkyLab, the first American space station, and supported Apollo 17 in early exploration of the moon. He is also a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Professor Platzer, now in his 80s, has developed an idea to create a huge fleet of sailing ships with the ability to harvest ocean winds and convert this wind energy into electricity  and then into hydrogen, on board the ships. He believes it could be a major provider of The World’s energy and help to tackle many environmental challenges.