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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "NS 230"
COURSE NAME: "Energy and the Environment"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Fall Semester 2012
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Gatto Renato
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
TTH 18:00-19:15
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:
TTH 19:30-20:30 by appointment
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The course wants to give students a first but
comprehensive exposure to the many facets of the energy problem. This semester the focus will be on fossil-fuels: we are still in the midst of the fossil fuel era, and, whether we like it or not, we will keep rely on fossil fuel energy for many decades to come. After
a brief historical introduction, we will present a detailed overview of energy production from petroleum, natural gas and coal, including non-conventional fossil fuel sources (e.g., shale gas, tar sands) and their potentialities. The main environmental consequences of fossil fuel usage, pollution and global warming, will be discussed. An extensive part of the course will be devoted to the geopolitics of energy - oil and
gas suppliers and security of access to those suppliers, and international
efforts to deal with global climate change. An introduction to the economical aspects of energy will also be provided. The course will end with a brief overview of selected non-fossil energy energy sources: solar, wind, biomass, and nuclear. While one of the main goals of the course is to give students a good basic knowledge
of the scientific and technological aspects of energy production, no
prerequisite technical courses are required, as all the needed topics in the realm of computation and sciences will be provided self-consistently. However, the students must be curious and open-minded about science, and be willing to learn how to solve basic energy problems with the aid of a scientific calculator.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
Historical overview of the energy usage. The
present energy scenario based on fossil fuels. Elements of physics and chemistry as
needed to understand energy sources and energy production systems. A
more quantitative study on energy production from from fossil fuels, including a discussion of various units of measurements. Geopolitics of energy: historic developments, present issues and future directions (energy security, climate change). Brief introduction to alternative energy sources.
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Provide non-science oriented students with a
good scientific and technical understanding of energy production
systems based on conventional and alternative sources. Put the student
in condition to meaningful compare different energy options, and to
make informed decisions regarding the ongoing debate surrounding the
energy issue.
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TEXTBOOK:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments | Format | Local Bookstore | Online Purchase |
| Energy and the Environment (2nd ed.) | R.A. Ristinen / J.J. Kraushaar | Wiley, 2006 | 9780471739890 | | | | | |
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments |
| Energy: Physical, Environmental, And Social Impact | Gordon J. Aubrecht | Benjamin-Cummings Publishing Company | 9780130932228 | TJ163.2 .A88 | |
| Sustainable energy - without the hot air | MacKay David J.C. | UIT Cambridge Ltd., 2009 | 978-0954452933 | TJ808 .M335. | Free download from: http://www.withouthotair.com/ |
| The Prize - The Epic Quest for Oil, Money & Power | D. Yergin | Free Press | 9781439110126 | | |
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| Homework | | 10% |
| Project & Presentation | | 25% |
| Exam 1 | | 25% |
| Exam 2 | | 30% |
| Attendance and Participation | | 10% |
-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
Final grades will be determined by the
evaluation of homework, the presentation of a group project, two exams (Exam 1 on the first half of the course, and Exam 2 on the second half of the course), and by attendance as specified in the Assessment Method.
The final grade is obtained by converting the weighted mean grade according to the following table:
A 100 - 94
A- 93 - 90
B+ 89 - 87
B 86 - 83
B- 82 - 80
C+ 79 - 77
C 76 - 73
C- 72 - 70
D+ 69 - 67
D 66 - 63
D- 62 - 60
F 59 - 0
Additional class policies:
Cheating is not tolerated (please see the University Catalogue for the policy regarding academic dishonesty).
Coming late to class or leaving early will be possible only with permission of the instructor.
No make-up exams will be given.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
All scheduled classes are mandatory. Full credit for attendance will be given to
students with one unjustified and two justified absences, or fewer. Punctuality is important: late arrival will be noted and may affect the final grade.
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ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic
dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred.
In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment,
may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of
academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student
who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from
the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation
to the President, who will make the final decision.
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STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap.
Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning
of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
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SCHEDULE
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| Session | Session Focus | Reading Assignment | Other Assignment | Meeting Place/Exam Dates |
| Week 1 | (1) Course presentation and motivation. (2) Brief history of energy in the United States. | Instructor's notes. MacKay Part I - Motivations. DOE document. | | |
| Week 2 | (3) Energy basics. Units of energy. (4) Physics of energy: force, work, energy, power. | R&K Ch 1. Instructor's notes. | | |
| Week 3 | (5) Energy consumption. Transformation of energy. Renewable and non-renewable energy. (6) Conventional fossil fuels. Petroleum. | R&K Ch 1. R&K Ch 2. | | |
| Week 4 | (7) Natural gas. (8) Coal. | R&K Ch 2. | | |
| Week 5 | (9) Unconventional fossil fuels: shale gas, tar sands, coal-bed methane. (10) Air pollution. | R&K Ch 2. R&K Ch 9. Instructor's notes. | | |
| Week 6 | (11) Air pollution. (12) Greenhouse gases and climate change. | R&K Ch 10. R&K Ch 3. Instructor's notes. | | |
| Week 7 | (13) The laws of thermodynamics and the heat engine. (14) Exam 1. | R&K Ch 3. | | Midterm exam. |
| Week 8 | (15) Geopolitics of energy: energy security (16) Geopolitics of energy: energy security. | "The Geopolitics of Energy: From Security to Survival", by C. Pascual. "Note: Geopolitics of Energy - Background Paper", by N. Pamir. | | |
| Week 9 | (17) Geopolitics of energy: climate change. (18) Geopolitics of energy: climate change. | "The Geopolitics of Climate Change", by J. Barnet. | | |
| Week 10 | (19) Geopolitics of energy: emerging trends. (20) Geopolitics of energy: emerging trends. | "The geopolitics of Energy. Emerging Trends, Changing Landscapes, Uncertain Times", by F A Verrastro, et al. | Projects' assignment. | |
| Week 11 | (21) The population problem and the tragedy of the commons.
(22) Environmental Ethics. | "The Tragedy of the Commons", by G. Hardin. "The Land Ethics", by A Leopold. Instructor's notes. | | |
| Week 12 | (23) The economics of energy. (24) Alternative energies: solar, wind, biomass, nuclear. | Instructor's notes. R&K Ch 4. R&K Ch 5. | | |
| Week 13 | (25) Projects' presentation. (26) Projects' presentation.
| | Projects' presentation. | |
| Week 14 | (27) Review for exam 2. (28) Exam 2. | | | Final exam according to JCU Exams Schedule. |
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