Stanford Energy Student Lectures: June Choi and Zane Taylor

June Choi

Title: The fiscal impact of climate extremes and implications for the energy transition

Abstract: Currently, more than half of low-income countries accounting for more than 40% of the global poor are carrying unsustainable debt burdens. Many of these countries are exposed to intensifying climatic extremes, such as tropical cyclones (TC), which can be especially disruptive for smaller economies. The combination of these trends presents major challenges for these countries’ capacity to participate effectively in the energy transition. Understanding the channels by which extreme events influence the fiscal position of these countries is important for developing robust transition plans that ensure continued investment and progress towards both emissions reductions and adaptation goals. Here I present initial findings from my research investigating the fiscal impacts of tropical cyclones using an improved and exogenous measure of TC exposure. 

Bio: June is a PhD candidate in Earth System Science co-advised by Profs. Noah Diffenbaugh and Marshall Burke. Her research focuses on equitable adaptation to extremes in a changing climate, motivated by her previous experience working in sustainable finance. She holds an MA in International Economics from Johns Hopkins SAIS and BA in Sociology and Asian Civilizations from Amherst College.

Zane Taylor

Title: Defect mechanisms and microstructure to 3D print metals for high temperature applications

Abstract: Refractory metals have some of the highest melting temperatures of elemental materials and are important to build components for extreme environments. Tantalum (Ta) is one such refractory metal best known for its bioactivity as biomedical implants, corrosion resistance, and resistance to radiation and high temperatures. The same properties that make Ta desirable for parts also makes it difficult to fabricate by traditional processes and by metal 3D printing techniques. Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) is one such 3D printing technique that has proven promising in overcoming the manufacturing challenges, allowing the creation of nearly arbitrary part geometries that were not previously accessible. However, challenges remain in controlling their unusual defect mechanisms and microstructures that control part performance. In this talk, I will present my initial experiments that are working to characterize LPBF of Ta in-situ to map out parameters controlling its structure-property relationships.

Bio: Zane Taylor is a PhD student in the Materials Science and Engineering Department at Stanford University. He works in the Dresselhaus-Marais group on metal additive manufacturing with a particular interest in the printing of refractory (high temperature) metals and in-situ/operando characterization techniques. He completed a B.S in Materials Science at the California Institute of Technology in 2022, where he researched polymer based additive manufacturing primarily with hydrogels.