What is the future energy? Dr. Scott W. Tinker tackles this question in his award-winning documentary, “Switch,” which will screen at Morgantown’s Metropolitan Theatre on March 19 at 6:30 p.m. Following the film, Tinker will be on hand to discuss his global, decade-long journey of seeking truth in a landscape of conflicting energy choices.

“Switch” seeks to make the complex world of energy understandable and fills a gap in the national energy conversation by providing a comprehensive, balanced and simple depiction of this important topic.

In the film, Tinker explores the world’s leading energy sites, from coal to solar, oil to biofuels—many highly restricted and never before seen on film. He gets straight answers from the people driving energy today, including international leaders of government, industry and academia. Tinker and “Switch” cut through the confusion and highlight a path to our future that is surprising and remarkably pragmatic.

This event is co-sponsored by West Virginia University’s National Research Center for Coal and Energy and is the last event slated for the 2012-13 David C. Hardesty Jr. Festival of Ideas. It is free and open to the public.

Members from Morgantown’s bicycle non-profit Positive Spin will be on hand offering free bicycle valet parking. Cyclists can hand off their bikes to the valet for prime parking right outside the theater. The group thought the idea fit well with the film’s messages about alternative energy and energy conservation.

“We encourage attendees to use any form of alternative transportation to get to the event. We want to demonstrate that bicycling is not just a leisure activity, it can be a viable mean of transportation,” said Jonathan Rosenbaum, acting director of Positive Spin.

“Switch” is part of the Switch Energy Project, a multi-prong effort designed to build a balanced national understanding of energy.

Tinker is director of the Bureau of Economic Geology at the University of Texas at Austin and the state geologist of Texas.

Tinker’s research includes global energy supply and demand, technology administration, resource assessment, multidisciplinary reservoir characterization and 3-D reservoir modeling. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Trinity University, a master’s degree in geological sciences from the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. in geological sciences from the University of Colorado.

Festival of Ideas was created in 1995 by former University president, David C. Hardesty, Jr. It was inspired by events he organized as WVU’s student body president in the 1960’s. Today, this lecture series is organized by the Office of University Events and brings key figures from politics, business, research, entertainment, sports and the arts to campus throughout the academic year.

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CONTACT: Liz Dickinson, Office of University Events
304-293-8025, Liz.Dickinson@mail.wvu.edu

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