As individuals, organizations,
companies, and countries, all share a common air resource. We
also share the responsibility of keeping it healthy and preserving
its natural resources. Urban air pollution, tropospheric greenhouse
gases and acid rain, and non-essential uses of energy have become
an integral part of daily life. The generation of energy and
the
protection of the environment are at a crossroads. That is why
key energy researchers from California,
Taiwan,
Japan,
China
and Korea
have joined to form the Pacific Rim Consortium on Energy,
Combustion, and the Environment (PARCON).
The Consortium emphasizes communication and the exchange of technologies
and tools available to address the energy challenges in the world
with immediate focus on those germane to the region.
GOALS
The goals of PARCON are to advance the evolution of energy and
environmental control technologies, and to promote more informed
decision making.
OBJECTIVES
To meet the goal, PARCON has established the following objectives:
ORGANIZATION AND PROCESS
Develop an organization of researchers among universities
and industry within the Pacific Rim, and a process that
addresses energy utilization (production, distribution,
and use), research, and related environmental impacts specific
to the Pacific Rim.
DIALOGUE
Promote and accelerate a developing dialogue within and
among participating nations regarding the availability,
distribution, use, and environmental impacts associated
with the utilization of energy in the region.
ACQUIRE, EXCHANGE, AND ARCHIVE INFORMATION
Acquire, exchange, and archive information on the technologies
in the Pacific Rim that have been developed by individual
countries and have been demonstrated to improve the efficiency
of energy utilization and to reduce environmental impacts.
DEVELOP AND TRANSFER TECHNOLOGIES
Establish and implement strategies for conveying information
to developed, nearly developed, and developing countries
including a WWW clearinghouse, a biennial colloquium, research
initiatives, internships, seminars, and workshops.
MISSION
PARCON emphasizes the exchange of technologies and tools available
to address the energy challenges in the Pacific Rim and associated
environmental impact. It also aids in the implementation of formal
research activities.
Research activities range from residential applications, such
as water heaters, space heaters, and combustors, to industrial
applications, such as utility gas burners and oil combustion designs,
to propulsion such as gas turbine engines. Such a liaison provides
an effective means of communicating between different countries,
consolidates research activities, and avoids needless duplication
of research initiatives. While PARCON seeks to identify and initiate
new research programs, a major opportunity also exists to inventory,
refine, communicate, and facilitate mid-course corrections to
existing research initiatives so that results will be more relevant
to the region as a whole and reach the public in a more timely,
efficient, and collaborative fashion.
PARCON is comprised of two key industries, two universities,
and a national laboratory from each member country. The rationale
is that collaboration and cooperation can facilitate resolution
of the conflict between energy generation and environmental impact.
Through access to university and industrial labs in member countries,
core participants work with cutting-edge energy research.
