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Energy & Environment

Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) & Earth Sciences (ES) 2155
Ohio State University, Spring 2013
Date

Lecture Topic

Textbook Reading

Jan 8

Introduction to energy & environment

Chapter 1: A Changing Planet: Earths Beginnings

Jan 10
Jan 15

Energy basics: units & measures

Energy outlook & energy consumption: US

Chapter 3: Energy: A Closer Look

Chapter 2: A High-Energy Society

Jan 17
Jan 22

Energy outlook & energy consumption: The World

Energy and Heat

Chapter 2: A High-Energy Society

Chapter 4: Energy & Heat

Jan 24
Jan 29

Peak oil & global climate change: an overview

Exam 1

Chap 5: Sec. 5.6; Chapters 12, 13, 14 (selected reading: TBA)

Jan 31
Feb 5

Energy carriers: Electricity & Energy infrastructure

Petroleum: conventional & unconventional

Chap 3: Sec. 3.2; Chap 11: Sec. 11.1

Chapter 5: Fossil Energy: Petroleum

Feb 7
Feb 12

Natural gas: conventional & unconventional

Coal

Chapter 5: Fossil Energy: Natural gas

Chapter 5: Fossil Energy: Coal

Feb 14
Feb 19

Nuclear Energy
Fossil Fuels & Sustainability

Chapter 7: Nuclear Energy

Chapter 6: Environmental Impacts of Fossil Fuels

Feb 21
Feb 26

Fossil Fuels & Sustainability

Exam 2

Chapter 6: Environmental Impacts of Fossil Fuels

Feb 28

Solar Energy
Solar Energy

Chapter 9: Direct from the Sun: Solar Energy Mar 5

Chapter 9: Direct from the Sun: Solar Energy

Mar 7
Mar 12-14

Indirect from the Sun: Wind (How it works)

Spring Break

Chapter 10: Indirect from the Sun

Mar 19

Indirect from the Sun: Wind (Environmental Impacts)

Mar 21
Mar 26

Energy from Earth and Moon: Geothermal, Tidal, & Wave Power
Indirect from the Sun: Water (How it works); Energy Carriers: Hydrogen

Mar 28

Indirect from the Sun: Water (Environmental Impacts)

Apr 2

Exam 3

Apr 4
Apr 9

Indirect from the Sun: Biomass (How it works)

Indirect from the Sun: Biomass (Environmental Impacts)

Chapter 10: Indirect from the Sun

Apr 11
Apr 16

Climate Change
Climate Change

Chapter 12: The Science of Climate

Chapter 13: Forcing the Climate

Apr 18
Final exam:

Energy, Environment, Sustainability & Resilience

Friday, April 26, 2013: 2:00-3:45pm

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Chapter 8: Energy from Earth and Moon

Chapter 11; Chapter 10

01/07/13

Energy & Environment

Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) 2155 & Earth Sciences (ES) 2155
The Ohio State University, Spring 2013
Homework
Exam 1
Exam 2
Exam 3
Final exam
Total

200 points
100 points
100 points
100 points
200 points
700 points

Credit Hours:

3 credit hours (UG)

Course
management:

It is the responsibility of the student to check for syllabus updates, announcements,

and reserve materials as they are made available during the course.
This course uses Carmen.

Textbook:

Wolfson, Richard. Energy, Environment, and Climate, 2nd ed. W. W. Norton &
Company, New York, NY.

Instructors:

Dr. Stacey Fineran (ENR)

fineran.2@osu.edu

Dr. Ann Cook (ES)

cook.1129@osu.edu

Lecture:

Days and times

T & TH 2:20pm-3:40pm

Location
0191 Mendenhall Lab

Course objectives
This course will provide students with a scientific understanding of energy, energy choices, and their
implications for sustaining Earths living systems. In addition, the course will present different conceptual
approaches to the on-going energy problem that confronts human society. Energy conservation, energy
efficiency, and the transition to renewable and alternative energy sources will be discussed. An important goal
for the course is to enable students to evaluate energy choices for a sustainable future.

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Make-up Work
Make-up for missed work will not be scheduled in the case of an unexcused absence (and in some cases, may
not be rescheduled for logistical reasons). There are three situations that constitute an excused absence from
class. They are: 1) students who participate in a documented University sanctioned event, 2) students who have
a documented death in the family, and 3) students who have received documented medical attention for an
illness. Students who will be participating in University sanctioned events must provide the instructor with a
copy of the scheduled events and those classes that will be missed. This documentation must be on University
letterhead, signed by the coach/supervisor, and given to the instructor within the first two weeks of the semester.
Late Assignment Policy
To receive full credit for assignments, work must be turned-in on time and in condition to be evaluated. Work
with excessive deficiencies will be returned for resubmission and will be treated as if they are late. Late
assignments will incur a deduction of 10% of the total point value for each 24-hour period (or portion) that they
are late (including weekends). In-class assignments missed because of an unexcused absence cannot be madeup or repeated; an alternative written report assignment will be scheduled for those missed because of an
excused absence.
Academic Misconduct Statement
Academic misconduct (plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of misconduct as defined by the university) will
not be tolerated in this course. According to Faculty Rule 3335-31-02 Academic Misconduct is defined as any
activity which tends to compromise the academic integrity of the institution or subvert the educational process.
Please see the Student Resource Guide or the instructors if you have questions about this policy.
Disability Statement
Any student who feels s/he may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact one
of the instructors privately to discuss your specific needs. Also, please contact the Office for Disability Services
at 614-292-3307 in room 150 Pomerene Hall to coordinate reasonable accommodations if you have documented
disabilities.
Personal problems or situational crises
A recent American College Health Survey found stress, sleep problems, anxiety, depression, interpersonal
concerns, death of a significant other and alcohol use among the top ten health impediments to academic
performance. Students experiencing personal problems or situational crises during the quarter are encouraged to
contact the OSU Counseling and Consultation Services (292-5766; http://www.ccs.osu.edu) for assistance,
support and advocacy. This service is free to students and is confidential.

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GEC category and GEC Expected Learning Outcomes
This course satisfies the following GEC category:
Category 3 Natural Science BA, Section 2. Physical Science Sequence and Section 4. Physical Science Course
Expected Learning Outcomes: The GEC has specified that students fulfill the following Expected Learning
Outcomes in the Natural Science category of the GEC:
1. Students understand the basic facts, principles, theories and methods of modern science.
2. Students understand key events in the development of science and recognize that science is an evolving body
of knowledge.
3. Students describe the inter-dependence of scientific and technological developments.
4. Students recognize social and philosophical implications of scientific discoveries and understand the potential
of science and technology to address problems of the contemporary world.
This course will satisfy the above stated learning outcomes, respectively, by:
1. Presenting the basic facts, principles, theories, and methods of modern science associated with energy.
Existing energy supply technologies from non-renewable sources (e.g., hydrocarbons, and nuclear) and
renewable sources (e.g., wind, biomass, hydroelectric, geothermal, and solar) will be presented in the
context of a portfolio of possible energy sources.
2. Exploring the history of the scientific concept of energy and its development as well as the scientific
discoveries that led to our modern understanding of energy and energy related phenomena. Also, the
potential environmental impact of each energy source will be discussed in a historical context of past
energy production, and future energy use, as well as climate change.
3. Challenging students to develop a personal understanding of how future decisions about energy sources
will be linked to scientific and technological developments. The push-pull nature of science and
technology is present throughout the topic of energy source development, including todays most
fundamental scientific question concerning the future impact of global warming and the resulting
present-day emphasis on the development of renewable energy sources.
4. Discussing the fundamental issue of how energy consumption impacts our standard of living and its
adverse impact on the environment of the Planet. Science and technology have led to the development of
massive supplies and consumption of non-renewable energy, resulting in robust economic growth. The
side-effects of consuming non-renewable energy supplies are a decrease in the supply and large scale
environmental degradation. Scientific and technological advances will, undoubtedly, be necessary to
develop new renewable sources of energy that simultaneously address problems of the environment and
the massive demand for energy. The current controversies and economic implications of energy options
for the future will be presented and discussed. At a minimum, students enrolled in this course will
develop the knowledge necessary to understand the basic technologies and scientific facts associated
with current discussions and controversies related to energy and the environment.

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