Energy & Environment: The Grand Challenges of the 21st Century

The material in Energy & Environment: The Grand Challenges of the 21^st Century is often interdisciplinary, and it focuses heavily on pertinent scientific and economic principles, but the level of technical detail is such that the material should be understandable to people who do not have STEM backgrounds. We also delve heavily into the history of energy and its use by humans. Students should always bear in mind that simple answers rarely exist when it comes to energy and environment, so we encourage skepticism and critical thinking.

After completing this course, students will be able to:

• Understand the implications that the laws of thermodynamics have on ecological and human systems.
• Identify main energy sources used by humans and their recent and long-term history of utilization.
• Understand the relationship between energy use and the environment especially climate.
• Understand the relationship between economic growth and energy use.
• Develop an appreciation for the complexity of energy systems and their life-cycle impacts.