Dr. Richard E. Smalley has worked on super cold pulse beams and supersonic beam laser spectroscopy, projects that make him sound like a James Bond villain, but Smalley is actually a Nobel Prize Winning chemist who is very concerned about the world’s energy crisis.

“I believe the most important problem facing not only us in the United States but the entire planet is the energy challenge,” Smalley said.

Smalley gave a speech about energy to a Student Center Auditorium that was so packed a projection television was set up outside the room so more people could listen.

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Smalley said some of the world’s other top problems, such as food and environment, would be easier to solve if energy was abundant.

“Water is a great example of a problem that is dependent on energy,” Smalley said. “Either you have it or you don’t.”

Smalley said the Earth is rich with water but most of it is salt water. However, with energy, salt water can be rendered drinkable and transported to the world’s thirsty masses, said Smalley.

He said oil and coal are not the answers to the energy crisis and that oil production is scarily close to peaking.

“It might have already happened,” Smalley said. “Or it’s likely to happen this year.”

Smalley said coal, a resource close to the hearts of Carbondale residents, is not the answer because the CO2 it generates is ripping the atmosphere apart and causing a rise in global warming.

“We’re sure we can get to the coal beneath your feet,” Smalley said. “But can we afford to put the CO2 in the environment? Then there is the overall question of energy efficiency.”

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Smalley said turning to solar, geo and nuclear fission could alleviate the problem.

“I’m in favor of vastly increasing the number of nuclear fission plants in the U.S. and the entire world,” Smalley said. “However, we can’t practically afford to build the reactors.”

Solar energy was a resource Smalley alluded to as a possible solution.

“Strangely the biggest resource is that great nuclear reactor in the sky, the sun,” Smalley said. “The planet is actually bathed in energy.”

Smalley said there are moderately sized areas in each continent that if the solar energy was harnessed could provide every person with more than enough energy. Storing and transporting this energy is the real challenge, Smalley said.

“Energy storage locally and long distance energy transportation would have an enormous effect,” Smalley said.

As is the case with many problems, Smalley said youth involvement is the answer.

“We need that to happen in a corny and significant sense we need young boys and girls to go into science,” Smalley said. “We need that to happen to save the world.”

Smalley’s speech was a kick off for the 27th annual Illinois Junior Science and Humanities Symposium, an event that brings gifted high school science students from all over the state to Carbondale.

Vice Chancellor for Research at SIUC John A. Koropchak said Smalley’s visit is consistent with the high quality of speakers the University attracts.

“We have a lot of prestigious people who came to campus, and that’s one of the great things about a university,” Koropchak said. “It’s a great opportunity for our students to mingle with leaders from across the world. Every other week there’s another great speaker.”

Reporter Zack Quaintance can be reached at [email protected].