C881C

Note: this is 2009 info for informational purposes and thus subject to change

Class Purpose: The mission of this class is to provide students with the facts and investigative tools that will enable them to think critically about the engineering and technology aspects of the energy/climate crisis and thus participate creatively in the critical discussions and debates that confront America and the World.

Major Issues to Consider:

What is the “best bet” in confronting climate change? What is the likely impact of climate change? Can Technological Innovation help and how? Which technological paths are the most fruitful? Deciding how to proceed -- what is your role?

We will be addressing numerous burning questions of the day, some of which might not be : Humanity has been having one heck of a party, how can we avoid a hangover? Was it worth it to cut down all the trees to print all the bailout money needed to create green jobs to save the environment? Are the economic predictions right, that if the icecaps melt and the sea level rises it will lead to another liquidity crisis? If we can breed burpless cattle are we saved? Will using fireflies in jars for lighting actually solve the whole problem? Will the actions that this class leads to be worth the energy spent attending? If we ram our SUVs into Hybrid cars won't that stop hybrids from using fuel altogether? And finally: Would giving students bad career advice so that they can't get jobs and never commute help or not?

Course outline: What we'll be learning about and for about how long:

Week 1

Energy basics, World Energy Usage - Who has it, who needs it, who wants it, and how do I get more?

Week 2

Electricity, Light, Heat and Thermodynamics-Will I really go to jail if I break the Second Law of Thermodynamics?

Week 3

Technological Innovation: computers, fiber optics, lighting and engines-Cool gizmos that helped get us into the problem, can they help us solve it?

Week 4

Technological Innovation cars and airplanes - I want to be there now.

Technological utopia, future predictions - Be happy don't worry

Week 5

Fossil fuels, peak oil, clean coal and carbon sequestration - Drill bably drill

Nuclear energy, fission and fusion - Can I just use it until I start to glow?

Week 6

Renewable energy options solar, wind and geothermal, biomass, waves, tides, etc.-Who says there's no free lunch?

Week 7

Electric grid and micro grids Electric car, hybrid technology-If the "Smart Grid" is coming do that mean we have a dumb one now?

Week 8

Transportation options: Hydrogen economy, personal rapid transit-Are we there yet?

Environmental sensors-If big brother is watching won't he just get bored?

Week 9

Energy efficient buildings - Caulk your way to greatness.

Clean water technologies - Recycling water and the "Yuck" factor.

Week 10

Planetary engineering - Technology saves the day?

Lean manufacturing, nanotechnology - The future's so bright I have to wear shades...