Summer 2001 - Solar Energy Technology Education (a cross-listed course)
SCI 322U -- Energy and Society, Part II
-- CRN 81806
CH 410 -- Solar Energy Technology Education -- CRN 81858
CH 510 -- Solar Energy Technology Education -- CRN 81859
Schedule: July 2 - 30; Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu : 1:00 - 3:50 pm, SB2-469
Instructor: Carl C. Wamser, Professor of Chemistry ( WamserC@pdx.edu )
Office: SB1-327A / / Office Hours: daily 10:30 am - 12:30 pm
Teaching Assistants: Brian Leigh and Matt Stevens
Textbook: "Energy and the Environment" by R. A. Ristinen & J. J. Kraushaar
Course description: This course will survey solar energy applications, emphasizing the installation and monitoring of photovoltaic systems and the use of such systems in science and technology education. The course includes laboratory and field work.
Topics:
Energy - sources, measurements, interconversions
Renewable energy - water cycle, carbon cycle, wind energy, geothermal
Passive solar - architectural design, solar collectors
Solar energy conversion - photosynthesis and artificial photosynthesis
Photovoltaics - semiconductor properties, performance criteria, manufacturing, economic and strategic issues
PV systems - installation, data collection and analysis, educational uses
Readings: sources will include standard texts and journals
Course Expectations: Daily meetings will typically include lecture/discussion as well as laboratory or field work. Students will maintain reflective journals, ultimately framing individual goals with respect to solar energy and designing a project that reflects those goals. The class final project will be the installation of a full photovoltaic system with an internet data monitoring system.
Grading: attendance and participation in class activities (10%), journals and lab write-ups (10%), homework assignments (10%), midterm exam (20%), group projects (20%), individual projects (30%)
The course is the latest addition to the Science Cornerstone Program and serves as a follow-up to the Energy and Society course (SCI 321U, spring 2001). SCI 321U is recommended but not required in order to take SCI 322U.
One goal of the course is to develop means of using solar energy as an educational tool while applying the National Science Standards, NCTM Principles and Standards, and AAAS Benchmarks.
A focal point of the class is the environmental effects of energy use. Data on weather, climate change, and ozone depletion are available through NASA's remote sensing research. Daily monitoring of atmospheric and climate data of the Portland area is monitored by schools participating in the Horizons Project of PSU.
To access other websites relating to renewable energy and education, connect to our Links page.
Acknowledgements:
Support for the creation of this course comes from the NOVA
Program of NASA.
Equipment for the photovoltaic installation
was provided by a grant from Portland
General Electric.
Go to Solar for Schools to find
out about PGE's program for donation of photovoltaic equipment
to high schools.