Challenge Future – Technical Progress and Globalization

Abstract

Central elements of the challenges of the future are the population, supply and disposal trap, the question of how the increasing world population will be supplied with long-lasting and effective sources of energy, raw materials and food? How do we deal with the problems of greenhouse effect, ozone hole, forest dieback, ground erosion, desertification and other environmental threats? Driven by the dynamics of the technical progress the world is in the midst of experiencing the transition from an industrial to an information society. The process of globalization is intrinsically tied to the information society and plays a vital role in the path to a new, digital development of the world. Therefore, new challenges have been added to the traditional ecological challenges at the beginning of the 21 st century, which the world community must react swiftly to.

Nonlinear frequency response analysis of PEM fuel cells for diagnosis of dehydration, flooding and CO-poisoning

“…Sustainable and ecological energy production is one of the major issues of mankind [1]. One possible solution for an effective and sustainable energy conversion is the fuel cell technology, because here chemical energy is directly converted into electrical energy.…”

Still searching for (education for) sustainable development – reflections on the need, challenges, and chances of transforming education in the 21st century

“…This is particularly true for the era of the industrial revolution, and the invention of James Watt's steam engine (patent registration in 1781) is frequently used as an important time marker indicating a new phase of human impact (Crutzen and Stoermer, 2000) which would be unprecedented in its dimension and intensity. Crutzen and Stoermer (2000) explain in detail the ways in which, and to what extent mankind has intensified its influence on the Earth's spheres over the past centuries, not only by growing in number, but also by increased per capita exploitation of resources (Jischa, 2008 andKromp, 2013). On top of this, the total disrespect of nature and complete disregard of the limits of the planet must be taken into consideration.…”