Life After Oil: The New Energy Alternatives
Patricia Ann Owens, Wabash Valley College, Mt. Carmel, IL -- School Library Journal, 7/8/2008
Life After Oil: The New Energy Alternatives. DVD. 40 min. with tchr’s. guide. Prod. by Centre Communications. Dist. by Ambrose Video (ambrosevideo.com). 2007. $49.95.
Gr 7 Up–Clear, colorful visuals, soft music, and the voice of a male narrator describe the alternative energy possibilities of wind power, fuel cells, hydrogen fuel, ethanol, biomass, and solar power. The explanations are precise and include the positive and negative aspects of each energy source. Both male and female scientists explain their research and job responsibilities, often on site in labs or industrial units such as the inside of a modern wind turbine. The vignettes are connected by an all encompassing theme: Americans need to put forth the effort and the political will to conduct the research and develop one or all of the energy alternatives to free us from our dependence on fossil fuels. Frequent references are made to the Manhattan Project that created the atomic bomb to illustrate that Americans can achieve great things when they set their minds to it. This classroom-friendly program introduces the smorgasbord of solutions that are available and the need for creative, knowledgeable scientists. Extras include a lesson plan and printable graphics. An excellent springboard for student research.
