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BOB HIRSHON (Host):
Diversifying energy research. I’m Bob Hirshon and this is Science Update.
Nobel Prize winning physicist Steven Chu says the key to solving America’s energy woes is investing in lots of high-risk energy options, rather than focusing on just a couple conservative ones. He compares the strategy to the way venture capitalists operate.
STEVEN CHU (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory):
You have to say, well, this idea has a 3% chance of working, another idea has a 3% chance of working, you’ve got a very rich venture capitalist.
HIRSHON:
Chu currently heads up the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California, and recently received funds from British Petroleum to help pursue his plans.
CHU:
The research portfolio of this country has to have a lot of daring moves. There are going to be problems; some of them will be busts. But some of them I’m sure will come through, especially if you get smart people, you will get solutions.
HIRSHON:
I’m Bob Hirshon for AAAS, the Science Society.