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University Partner Curriculum Modules |
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Dr. Tait Chirenje
The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey
Course Description (Click here for link to full course description):
The main objective of this class is to introduce students to the most common forms of environmental pollution, their sources, persistence in the environment, pollution prevention, and regulation and clean-up of contaminated soils, air and water systems. Case studies will be used to demonstrate how different communities have dealt with specific kinds of pollution.
The main topics covered in this class include, basic toxicology, risk, air pollution and regulation, water pollution and regulation and hazardous waste production and disposal. We will also look at the social aspects involved in pollution.
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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