Dr. Kammen is Professor in the Energy and Resources Group Energy and Resources Group (ERG), Professor of Public Policy in the Goldman School of Public Policy and is Professor of Nuclear Engineering in the Department of Nuclear Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. He is also the founding Director of the Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory (RAEL). Dr. Kammen advises the US and Swedish Agencies for International Development, the World Bank, and the Presidents Committee on Science and Technology (PCAST).
Long time supporter of blueEnergy, Dr. Kammen visited the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua in August to see blueEnergy's work firsthand and to hold a presentation about climate change. Dr. Kammen arrived as a special guest of the US Embassy in Nicaragua.
The following photo essay chronicles his visit:
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Dr. Kammen gave an enlightening presentation on climate change and the developing world. He described the current statistics of the melting of arctic ice, related studies being conducted on an island in the South Pacific and work he has performed in Malaysia. Dr. Kammen also introduced the audience to an effort by scientists trying to put local faces on climate change called the Climate Hot Map. He also had encouraging things to say about Nicaragua and its potential to lead the rest of Central America in renewable energy investment. Climatescope is a report by the International Development Bank that shows Nicaragua ranking second of 26 countries in the ability to attract capital for low-carbon energy sources while building a greener economy.
In the evening of the first day, Dr. Kammen was presented with an honorary Bluefields citizenship by Mayor, Dr. Bacon.
A lengthy visit of the blueEnergy shop was on the agenda for the second day. The heads of each of blueEnergy program areas took turns explaining their departments and current program initiatives. Jorge and Juan Carlos (above) demonstrated the force of the electrical current from the alternator of a small scale wind turbine.
The next day, Dr. Kammen and John Kill, Economic Officer from the US Embassy in Managua, Nicaragua joined blueEnergy staff, Guillaume Craig, Gilles Charlier, Casey Callais and Pearl Downs on visits to a number of blueEnergy's community installations.
A women's farming cooperative in Rocky Point, was the first stop. Pearl and Gilles took the opportunity to explain a new energy project that will have blueEnergy working with the farming cooperative later this year.
The group then traveled to the Kahka Creek reserve to visit a blueEnergy's solar installation.
At the Kahka Creek reserve, the blueEnergy team, reserve staff, Dr. Kammen and John Kill pose with the trees that they helped reforest as part of the reserve's Every Visitor Plants a Tree program.
blueEnergy and Kahka Creek staff along with Dr. Kammen and John Kill in the doorway of the battery bank that stores the energy from the install done in January, in part thanks to Renewable World, Trojan Battery Company and BP Solar.
Dr. Kammen's visit was a highlight for blueEnergy, as it gave teams the opportunity to showcase installations and introduce community members who are directly impacted by blueEnergy's work to a major actor in the fight against climate change. Through the conference, dinner discussions and site visits, the idea that climate change is real and needs addressing - especially in communities along the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua - is one that blueEnergy will continue to be a part of and hopes will spark change.
Also, make sure to check out the US Embassy's take on the event: Energy Expert Inspires New Thought on Sustainable Energy.
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