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University Partner Curriculum Modules |
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Dr. Tait Chirenje, Dr. William J. Cromartie, Jr.
The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey
Course Description (Click here for link to full course description):
Analyses of a series of current environmental issues at the global, national, and local levels from the viewpoints of ecology, economics, and ethics. Examples may include biodiversity, toxic and hazardous waste, land-use decisions, and economic development.
Development of written, oral, and analytic skills for addressing environmental issues. Students will design and present projects. ArcView, a Geographic Information System (GIS) Program, will be introduced.
Includes: Environmental Issues Lab; Prerequisite: Introduction to Environmental Studies
Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Curriculum Module:
The overall goal of the module is to give students an understanding of the hydrogen economy and the concept of energy storage.
Most of the lecture material will be taken from introductory Environmental Science and Chemistry text books and online reading materials from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Fuel Cell Bulletin and the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy will also be used as sources of latest news and technical information.
The fuel cell at the college will be used for demonstrating the technology (a guest speaker from facilities will lead a tour).
- The Hydrogen Economy
Objectives: introduce students to the possibility of using hydrogen to replace common fossil fuels. Give students a real world exampe (through tour of facility and guest speaker)
- Hydrogen fuel as a means to store energy and generate electricity on demand
- Hydrogen in conventional engines
- Hydrogen in fuel cells
- Fuel Cell Technology
Objectives: introduce students to the history and science of fuel cells. Show the challenges of keeping the technology clean (energy has to be used to "produce" hydrogen). Provide students with an overall understanding of fuel cell technology, the costs, and the industry in the US and the world.
- The history
- The science (chemical reactions involved: sources of hydrogen; IS hydrogen clean?; sources of electricity to produce hydrogen)
- Applications of fuel cell technology
- Efficiency
- Economy
- Advantages and Challenges
- The fuel cell industry
- Fuel cell technology in Germany (case study showing the use of public funds to promote research in cleaner energy)
- Case Study Discussion (Web CT online discussion)
Objectives: provide students with deeper appreciation of the opportunities and challenges faced in the use of alternative energy.
- Students discuss four alternative energy sources including geothermal, solar, wind, and fuel cells.
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