The Bean, Revisited

Similar to yesterday's format, SISE talks featured 4 speakers on energy driver's in today's world. Day 2 of long lectures and intense discussions of US and global energy policy, trends, and technology was more invigorating (than tiring, though I am burning the midnight oil, as they say). New America Foundation's Steve LeVine spoke to us about the global impacts of fracking technology (it's not all bad) and members of the Argonne National Laboratory spoke about transportation challenges, energy policy and funding, world economic drivers of energy technologies, and the exciting research taking place in the national-funded experiment nerve-centers. I'm beginning to realize that the passion and energy brought to this event by all of these dedicated people is the exactly type of environment in which I always want to work.

Project teams are starting to cohere, and I can see the beauty in lacking prior knowledge and limiting time for problem-solving potential. It won't work in every case, but it certainly gives you an ingenuous edge if only because you don't have the time to think about what you don't know, which leads you into curious, innovative corners never before explored.

Following the long day, we did not surrender! There is only limited time here with new friends to make, so a group of us headed downtown on the "pink line" (one of Chicago's fun if outdated, but notable public transportation methods) and visited the bean. After dinner and a return to the dorms, I accidentally worked on our project until midnight or perhaps 1am. This wouldn't be a problem, except the program continues for a full Saturday starting bright and early at 8! I will probably leave here (as I predicted before arriving) somehow both completely exhausted and wonderfully invigorated.