Issue 10: The Eclipse
Issue 10: The Eclipse
are you travelling properly, climate research is cool, a movie that made me rethink life
Hello friends! Did anyone catch the Eclipse this week? We are based on the other side of the world in Kuala Lumpur, so there wasn’t much to see. Send us some photos if you have them!
Life Updates
I started reading How to Avoid a Climate Disaster by Bill Gates this week. I’ve also compiled a list of resources for anyone looking to get into climate.
— Ben
I started blogging on Medium, mainly on data engineering things. Follow me for more updates.
Other writings are on my blog as usual.
—Wei Chun
Without further ado, here are some stories we find interesting this week. Enjoy!
10 things to deepen your experience of travel
Travel doesn’t need to take you somewhere different to be meaningful. Life changing journeys can still be loops. Even though Odysseus started and ended in Ithaca, his experiences along the way changed who he was. I am interested in making more travel experiences into life changing loops instead of boring tourist rambles
A mental model for combating climate change
A great post by Nan Ranshohoff, Head of Climate @ Stripe for anyone looking to better understand climate change and even help solve it.
Where do emissions come from today?
The Sankey diagram above represents the ~50Gt of CO2e the world emits every year. To orient ourselves:
The left side is ‘supply’ — this section represents sources of emissions and is largely made up of energy sources such as coal, oil, and natural gas.
The middle is ‘demand’ — this section represents uses of those sources. What or who uses that energy?
The far right side shows the breakdown of the type of emissions. The various gases - carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, etc. — have been standardized into CO2 equivalents (CO2e) based on their respective warming potentials. ****This all adds up to our annual global emissions of ~50Gt CO2e.
Finding a job in climate
“I’m a [software engineer, product manager, lawyer, analyst, so on] and I want to transition to climate work. Where should I look?”
Two approaches
Bottom-up approach: look for open positions at existing climate companies
Top-down approach: 1) understands the contours of the climate probolem, 2) identify which chunk where your skills will shine, and 3) go deep into a specific part of the problem you want to solve
The top-down approach is what led Nan to lead the carbon removal program at Stripe.
The transition to clean energy is accelerating
Very simplified view of the shift to clean energy technologies.
Powered by solar, wind and lithium-ion batteries, the clean energy transition is reshaping the world.
This post explains what is driving the transition and explores emerging opportunities. Fairly new to the topic? This could be an overview that helps orient as you learn more. Already playing your role in the transition? You might find a perspective that challenges your thinking or surprises you. You could even be nudged to build or join a company to tap into the energy transition's huge opportunities ahead.
What can a technologist do about climate change? A personal view
“How do you think the tech community (startup community, or any community) can contribute to tech and/or policy solutions on a global scale?”
This is aimed at people in the tech industry, and is more about what you can do with your career than at a hackathon. I’m not going to discuss policy and regulation, although they’re no less important than technological innovation. A good way to think about it, via Saul Griffith, is that it’s the role of technologists to create options for policy-makers.
I’m also only going to directly discuss technology related to the primary cause of climate change (the burning of fossil fuels), although there are technological needs related to other causes (livestock, deforestation, global poverty), as well as mitigating symptoms of climate change (droughts and storms, ecosystem damage, mass migrations).
Things you are allowed to do
Some things you thought you shouldn’t do but are okay to do.
I learned or actually realized plenty of new things here. Definitely a must-read!
Did your curiosity die down as you grow older?
I really like Evan’s honesty in this article. And perhaps it’s something we can learn from him as well.
And I realized something from these conversations: The most curious people I know just build for the sake of it. They’re not motivated by prestige, or to “change the world.” Like pursuing an art. And above all, despite undertaking major commitments, they share the same relentless intensity to continue exploring new interests. Yet I was the one talking about how I’d get back to building once I had “enough” time. So I took a few steps back to reflect on my predicament. Because If I was truly earnest about building, I would have made the time…right?
I felt like I unlocked a long-forgotten feeling – the feeling of being spellbound, immersed in a craft without caring about the results.
Build a Community YOU want
Many of us want to have more interesting, inspiring, and nourishing social experiences, and it only takes seeing one other person doing it to give us the permission to do it ourselves
People are yearning for better ways to connect, and our civilization depends on it, but we don’t have enough hosts and spaces to accommodate them.
Because of this, we also recently started a branch of Socratica called Luminary in Kuala Lumpur.
It’s still in its baby phase but it’s something we hope could grow into something here.
What is something you wanted more people to be a part of but don’t have the space for it?
Cheat to nail your tech internship/job
I needed this when I first started my tech internship. So many useful tips in there that are very relevant. Hope this helps.
I might need to go back to this when practicum starts at USFCA, where both of us are pursuing our Masters in Data Science for Fall 2024.
If you are in SF, do reach out and we can meet somewhere after July!
Let AI Make a Song
Why is this so catchy? And It’s somewhat good?
This definitely has some kind of Drake Milligan’s vibe.
A Modern Take on Creative Web Designs
Here are some of my favorites. I like that it’s not your usual templated style website and it has a creative spin on it.
What I’m Watching
Aftersun
I was really impressed by the amount of details captured in the short scenes in this movie. This definitely deserved an Oscar.
This movie made it abundantly clear that depression and misery can be so internal that even those closest can miss the sign. Calum is careful to keep his feelings hidden from Sophie, and Sophie is too young to take notice of it, heck even as a viewer it took me a while to realize what was going on.
I hope my friends and family won’t have to go through something like this without speaking out.
What I’m Listening
Worth it by RAYE
RAYE is such an underrated artist although she has plenty of hits. I am super excited about the blues version of it she sang here. Her voice is just so powerful and angelic.
This would be a perfect one in a club or a night drive back.
Wasia Project
My favorite ones are ‘ur so pretty’ and ‘Is this What Love Is?’. Can’t believe both siblings are so talented!
Listening to this also reminds me of Laufey.
Any other artists you would recommend?
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