ENST 260 - Issues in Environmental Studies

Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)

The purpose of this course is to examine in depth an issue, problem, or set of issues and problems in environmental studies, to explore the various ways in which environmental issues are embedded in multiple contexts and may be understood from multiple perspectives. The course topic changes from year to year.

Topic for 2023/24b: Renewable Energy in Germany. A transition to new systems of energy requires innovation and exchange of ideas about everything from technology to governance to social practices and acceptance. Our aim in this course is to build our experience with some of these topics and to enhance our abilities to promote energy transition at home by learning from practices abroad. To understand renewable energy, it is important to understand some of the physics of energy transformation, materials, and forces, as well as the natural and social environment in which energy systems are developed and used. Understanding how these systems function and how they are implemented is of value to students of environmental studies and environmental science. While innovation is widespread in the United States, Germany is the global leader in implementation of renewables. Learning about renewable systems on site, in a place where the whole ecosystem of renewable production is taken seriously, can help students understand these systems in a holistic way. In this course we explore energy systems (technology, environmental considerations, physics of energy capture) and implementation (geographic distribution, environmental conditions, incentives and policies) of renewable energy in Germany. A spring break field trip is a required part of the class. Mary Cunningham, Jenny Magnes.

Prerequisite(s): Permission of the instructor.

Two 75-minute periods.

Course Format: CLS