What: The "Energy" New Deal refers to actions needed to confront the perfect storm resulting from the confluence between the current financial crises, the projected effects of climate change and the looming prospects of peak oil. This euphemism is analogous to Roosevelt's New Deal, widely credited in lifting the United States out of the depression and spurring the post-war prosperity enjoyed by the developed world.
When: Spring (2 cr.), Summer (May 6-20 1 cr. to New Zealand only) and Fall (3 cr.) 2013 involving (3 cr.) with grades awarded following the completion of a course report, due in December 2013, documenting material gathered during the field-trip. Students will register for EM SC 470W.
Why: "Progress" to an industrial economy has relied heavily on the availability of energy to spur the development of industry. Students will examine the controls on this metamorphosis from an agrarian to an industrialized economy. Local, or global economic welfare and quality of life depend on energy choices: fossil fuels, bridging energy technologies and the transformation to sustainable energy resources. We will examine the past as the key to constraining well-informed energy choices for the future.
Where: Principally at University Park, but including a ~14 day research expedition to New Zealand, May ~6-20 immediately following finals week.
Who: The course is open to all Juniors and Seniors who will enrolled through December 2013, including those in the social sciences, in the natural sciences and in engineering.
Students may use this course to fulfill the general education writing intensive requirement (W requirment). Depending on the student's project, it may also be appropriate for the use as design credits for engineering majors.
Instructors: Derek Elsworth, Semih Eser and Jonathan Mathews
How: This course will use occasional guest lectures, instructor-guided discusssions, student presentations and research to address the important contemporary issues of energy supply and use, and the environmental consequences of energy choices.
Students must apply to join the course. There are no formal prerequisistes.
Applications will be accepted, and periodically reviewed until the date of registration for the course. The course will be closed when full. Invitations to join the course are merit-based and made on a first-come, first-served basis.
Past CAUSE classes
http://www.ems.psu.edu/~elsworth/courses/cause2000/index.html
http://www.ems.psu.edu/~elsworth/courses/cause2003/index.html