Science Seminar in Energy Systems and Climate Change

REVISED

Winter 2012 quarter

Faculty

EJ Zita physics, mathematics, astrophysics

Fields of Study

agriculture, environmental studies, physics and sustainability studies

Preparatory for studies or careers in

environmental science, energy studies, sustainability, policy, teaching, and physics.

Prerequisites

Good reading and writing skills. Willingness to work online and in teams. (No math or science required!)

Description

How is energy created and harvested, stored and transformed, used or abused? What effects do human energy systems have on Earth’s climate?  What are consequences for human societies?  What can we learn from the past?  How can we live more sustainably?

Energy Systems & Climate Change (ES&CC) investigates questions such as these, as a learning community seeking deeper knowledge and wisdom together.   One of our primary means of inquiry is seminar:  small teams pre-seminar on weekly readings in advance, we all seminar together  twice a week (in person), and we share essays and peer responses online.  20 good students are invited to join our ES&CC seminar for 8 credits. SciSem students interact with ES&CC students in seminar. We share our understanding, insights, and questions about readings, and our ideas and wonder about the future.  SciSem students will write three essays and many peer responses individually and will post pre-seminar assignments with teams. Learning goals include deeper understanding of sustainability and climate change, science and scientific methods, and improved skills in writing, teamwork, and communication.  See program details, including text list, at  http://academic.evergreen.edu/curricular/energy/1112/SSescc.htm

Location

Olympia

Online Learning

Hybrid Online Learning < 25% Delivered Online

Books

Greener Store

Research Possibilities

Students with science background may join Energy Systems & Climate Change classmates in ongoing team research projects for an additional 4 credits, with faculty approval.

May be offered again in

2013-2014

Offered During

Day

Program Revisions