has shown re evaluating land usage and changes in land usage. It is offered in that it is a good summary piece and therefor much more readable than a report on a specific study.
(Some people even have trouble understanding statements like "this is a good concise statement" (not you
of course) without subjecting them to a research paper.) Many people won't read anything as dense as a technical paper. A summary article which clearly states what research has shown is therefor of value.
Conversesly, even something called research, or even sometimes appearing in a peer reviewed journal, alas may have questionable methodology andor dubious assumptions as was pointed out re the "study" of Searchinger, et al.
here
Searchinger et al overstated land needed for substitution 100%and here:
More criticism of Searchinger, et al "study""....This, together with the fact that
the paper is not replicable, since the models and parameters used are not accessible, places a question mark over the refereeing procedures used for this paper by the journal Science. A paper that seeks to place a procedure in the worst possible light, and refrains from allowing others to check its results, is perhaps better described as ideology than as science."
and here:
Devastating Criticism of Searchinger, et al, "study" Now, in the article I provided a link to, if you had read it, you would know that the authors did refer to research and included links at the end of their article. I suggest you try putting your cursor on one of those links and clicking your mouse button. This should take you to that article.
The authors also iincluded their email addresses.
Apparently you have not heard of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Here is link to their home page:http://www.ornl.gov/ornlhome/energy.shtml Here is what you'll find there:
ORNL is one of the world’s premier centers for R&D on energy production, distribution, and use and on the effects of energy technologies and decisions on society. Clean, efficient, safe production and use of energy have long been our goals in research and development. At ORNL, unique facilities for energy-related R&D are used both for technology development and for fundamental investigations in the basic energy sciences that underpin the technology work.
Bioenergy Science Center
Energy and Engineering Sciences Directorate
Energy Efficiency and Electricity Technologies
Engineering Science and Technology
Fossil Energy
Fusion Energy
NanoApplications Center
Nuclear Science and Technology
Nuclear Technology
US ITER
This is a better fact page on ORNL: http://www.esd.ornl.gov/people/kline/ornl_usaid_fact_sheet_10_2007.pdf General Capabilities
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is the Department of Energy’s largest science
and energy laboratory with over 4,000 staff members and an FY 2008 budget exceeding
$1 billion. Managed since April 2000 by a partnership of the University of Tennessee and
Battelle, ORNL was established in 1943 as a part of the secret Manhattan Project. Located
in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, ORNL is the most diverse R&D institution in the DOE family.
Work includes the basic energy sciences, the life and environmental sciences, energy and
environmental technologies, and energy and environmental analysis, assessment, and
institution-building.
ORNL Partnerships with USAID date back to the early 1980s,
when the Agency decided to undertake major energy initiatives worldwide while relying
on the R&D infrastructure already available through other federal agencies, especially
DOE. As environmental programs became a major USAID emphasis, the decision was
often made to rely on the strengths in other agencies including DOE, EPA, and USDA.
In 1981, ORNL was asked by USAID to assist with energy program planning, including
scoping the major RFP for the energy efficiency assistance competition. A formal
PASA relationship between USAID and DOE for ORNL’s technical assistance began in
April 1982 with energy planning assistance to USAID/Liberia and one or more PASAs have
been in place between USAID and ORNL nearly every year since.
Over the past twenty-five years, ORNL has led or supported more than 50 USAID
projects in 40 developing countries in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe/New Independent
States, Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Near East. Over this period, ORNL has
been the only DOE laboratory closely involved with USAID’s internal program planning,
development and evaluation, including assistance with the requirements of “reengineering
government” and managing for results. ORNL is familiar with how USAID works -- its
policies and procedures, its vocabulary, and its traditions.
ORNL has addressed all major energy technologies relevant to sustainable development
as well as most energy policy options and environmental issues in support of USAID
programs worldwide. Support for developing country programs has involved more than
100 ORNL staff members from 8 Divisions of the Laboratory, as well as scores of
consultants and subcontractors (when requested and authorized by USAID).
ORNL Roles
In its relationships with USAID, ORNL is a gap-filler. It does not compete with the
private sector for program implementation contracts and it does not generally manage
subcontractors unless specifically requested by USAID. Instead, ORNL serves (a) to
extend technical capacity of Agency staff in roles that would represent a conflict of
interest for private contractors, such as program design, monitoring, and evaluation; (b) as
a source of short-term technical assistance in areas where the Laboratory is especially
well-qualified; and (c) as a source of short-term and long-term technical and managerial
support where appropriate.
ORNL’s past work with USAID has focused in the areas listed below.
Subject Matter Capabilities
• Clean energy development
• Environmental policymaking and institution-building
• Biodiversity conservation and natural resource management
• Assessing regional and sector-specific vulnerabilities and responses associated
with global climate change
Regional Experience
• Africa
• Asia
• Eastern Europe and New Independent States
• Latin America and the Caribbean
• Near East
Cross-Cutting Capabilities
• Program design and development
• Program monitoring and evaluation
• Institution-building
• Information systems
• Technology transfer
A report on ORNL’s relationships with USAID is available upon request. It summarizes
past experiences and provides the rationale for Lab assistance with a more detailed
description of Laboratory capabilities and staffing.
Points of Contact:
Thomas J. Wilbanks Keith L. Kline
Corporate Fellow Environmental Sciences Division
Multi-Scale Energy and Environmental Systems Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (865) 574-4230
(865) 574-5515 klinekl@ornl.gov
wilbankstj@ornl.gov
http://www.esd.ornl.gov/people/kline/index.html