Soaring oil prices coupled with inflation is one of the most concerned issues in both public and private sectors. NTHU's Institute of Nuclear Engineering and Science, the College of Nuclear Science, invited Dr. Shu to deliver a lecture on "global change and energy crisis—analysis and strategies." The lecture took place in Conference Room 205 in the Department of Engineering and System building on Monday afternoon, August 4, 2008.

Beginning from concepts of physics, Dr. Shu discovered how new energy types such as biofuel, solar energy, wind energy, terrestrial heat, ocean waves, tides, hydropower, nuclear fission and nuclear fusion can replace the fossil fuel. He stressed that with the limited technologies and inadequate energy conversion efficiency, however, nuclear power is the most viable solution for countries around the world to meet G8 summit’s specification to halve carbon dioxide emissions in 2050.

Taiwan relies on import for 98% of its energy use, and it also has the world's fastest growing annual carbon dioxide emission rate. Nuclear energy provides approximately 20% of Taiwan's energy use. Though highly anticipated, the use of solar energy can hardly be a primary source of power due to its high cost and low capacity to meet the demand of baseload power. Nuclear energy is still the only viable solution to reduce carbon dioxide emissions for a small country with high population density like Taiwan.

Shu also introduced the design concept behind the fourth generation nuclear power plant. He hops that environmentalists and nuclear energy specialists can reach a consensus based on the development in Taiwan and work together to create a safer and healthier world.