Achievement

Our two Integrated Energy Challenges & Opportunities courses serve the needs of IGERT and non-IGERT students at our university. Beyond being required for Trainees in ours and the Nanotechnology for Clean Energy IGERT, they are recognized by the Certificate in Energy and the Masters of Business & Science programs and also attract non-IGERT students from diverse programs in life sciences, physical sciences, engineering, planning & policy, and other social sciences. Students report that they value the diversity of subject matter covered in the classes (spanning all research thrusts in our IGERT project), and the high quality of the faculty instructors and guest lecturers. They note that the courses help them “learn to understand each others’ languages” and that when specialized terminology is de-mystified, it is easier to grasp key concepts in each other’s fields. A recurring theme is that the courses help the students to better situate their own research within the larger energy landscape.