Alternative Energy

Modern society relies upon energy to support nearly all aspects of social and economic activity. Historically, this energy has come from fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas). Important questions concerning these energy sources' availability, along with their social and environmental impacts, contribute to increasing interest in developing alternative energy technologies (e.g., solar, wind, geothermal, tidal, etc.) Through interdisciplinary lenses, this course explores the dynamics and tensions of our current energy transitions, giving particular focus to sustainable energy resources. Students will investigate the social and environmental relationships, processes, and impacts comprising these challenges, and their possible solutions.