The Velocity of Ideas: Hiroshi Matsumoto at TEDxKyoto 2012

Kyoto University Chancellor and award-winning Engineer, Professor Hiroshi Matsumoto points our hopes for new energy sources up to the stars.

Hiroshi Matsumoto
Space radio scientist
Cars. Microwave ovens. Computers. Hair dryers. Lights. All of these are wonderful modern conveniences that we each use every day. However each of these conveniences require electric energy. With our supply and availability of fossil fuels slowly dwindling, one of our biggest modern challenges is to find alternate sources of electric energy. After the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake, Hiroshi Matsumoto, chancellor of Kyoto University, knew that Japan—as well as the rest of the world—desperately needed to find solutions to our energy crisis. Matsumoto has a Ph.D. in Engineering and specializes in space radio science, space plasma physics and space solar power transmission. His latest project is called "extraterrestrial electric generation", also known as the "space photovoltaics framework". In this process, photovoltaic generation satellites are sent to space, which in turn create energy that is converted to microwaves and sent back to earth. Matsumoto is in the front lines of research in this field. Matsumoto has won numerous awards for his work and has published 133 scientific papers in Japanese, 297 in English and has authored or contributed to several books. Matsumoto's dedication to finding and perfecting a reliable extraterrestrial power source for our planet is as inspiring as it is vital to the survival of our species. With Matsumoto at the helm of academic research in this field, there is no doubt that a viable solution is on its way.

http://www.tedxkyoto.com/en/events-2/...

松本 紘
宇宙電波工学者
「地球外発電」という言葉を聞いたことがあるでしょうか。これは、宇宙太陽光発電所構想ともいわれます。宇宙空間に太陽光発電衛星を打ち上げ、そのエネルギーをマイクロ波に変換し、地球に届けるシステムのこと、将来的には、人類の生存に向けた道を宇宙に模索することでもあります。松本紘さんの専門は、この地球外発電であり、今回TEDxKyoto2012の会場は、まさにそうした研究の最先端の地なのです。その京都大学で1987年に超高層電波研究センター教授に就任し、2002年に宙空電波科学研究センター長、04年に生存圏研究所所長などを歴任。英文論文301編、和文論文54編と、国内外に向けて発信してきました。昨年の東日本大震災以来、エネルギーの問題が特にクローズアップされています。持続可能なシステムには何が必要なのでしょうか。人類生存について、またそうした研究を支えるこれからの学問のあり方がどうあるべきなのか、京都大学総長として大局的な立場からメッセージを発信します。主な著書に「宇宙開拓とコンピュータ」「京の宇宙学」「宇宙太陽光発電所」。

http://www.tedxkyoto.com/ja/events-2/...

About TEDx
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

http://www.tedxkyoto.com/en/about-ted/