Geoscientist David Hughes of Global Sustainability Research Inc. will speak Feb. 2 on “Energy Security and Sustainability on a Finite Planet.” The lecture will take place 7-9 p.m. in the Landscape Architecture foyer, and is free and open to the public.

Hughes has studied Canada’s energy resources for nearly four decades, including 32 years as a scientist and research manager with the Geological Survey of Canada. He developed the national coal inventory to determine coal availability and environmental constraints on Canada’s coal resources. He belongs to the board of the Association for the Study of Peak Oil and Gas – Canada and is a fellow of the Post-Carbon Institute. He is currently president of Global Sustainability Research Inc., which studies energy and sustainability issues.

He will discuss prospects for energy production, energy as a finite resource, and policies to optimize investments and increase energy security.