Supersonic flight and cooking over wood-burning stoves: Challenges to the combustion community

Abstract

The key word in the title of this presentation is challenge . The realization must be that the Internet Revolution has made the transfer and integration of capital, technology and information across national borders with rapidity heretofore unknown. This globalization creates the necessity of rapidly bringing a product to market on a very new timescale. Thus, an applied science, such as combustion, must be more focused on end-use research in order to retain its funding and prominence. These points are conceptually supported by two recently published books: The Lexus and The Olive Tree (Understanding Globalization) and Pasteur's Quadrant (Basic Science and Technological Innovation) . Combustion research must focus on the solution of economic, environmental, and societal problems: that is, the relevance of combustion research must become of greater importance. Further, the healthy global competition which is developing demands greater innovation and more rapid implementation of research endeavors. These, indeed, are the challenges to the combustion community. Out of what are undoubtedly many possibilities, a few examples, including those mentioned in the title, of end-use and innovative research are offered and illustrated.