Our Energy Future

Dennis Silverman

UC Irvine Physics and Astronomy

 

Course:  “Our Energy Future  University Studies 3

                        Winter Quarter 2007

Course Code:  87573

Classroom:  PSCB 230

Time:  Thursdays, 2:00 – 2:50 PM

Instructor:  Prof. Dennis Silverman,

275 Rowland Hall

(949) 824-5149

djsilver@uci.edu

Office Hours:  Tuesdays 2:00-2:50 PM

Course Website:  http://www.physics.uci.edu/~silverma/ourenergyfuture.html 

Texts:  

            Each student will buy a general audience book concerned with fossil fuels, global warming, energy generation and usage, energy conservation, and alternative energy, or a combination of these topics.  A list of suggested books will be provided.

 

Lectures: 

            Lectures will be about 30 minutes, with about 20 minutes for student discussion.

            Students are expected to read in their books about the topic of the day, and contribute their unique knowledge to the discussion.  Attendance is required, but one unexcused absence is readily allowed, and other absences with excuses.

 

Course Work: 

            Students will submit a three or four page paper or an eight slide powerpoint talk at the end of the course which could be a book report, or a discussion of their research findings on a given topic which interests them.  A student will also give a brief report on their work to the class on one of the last three class meetings or at an office hour.  Book or web based research will be encouraged. 

 

Areas To Be Covered:  Fossil Fuels, Global Warming, Transportation, Nuclear Power,

Renewables, Conservation, and Government Plans.  The last three weeks will be for student

class presentations.