Αlternative Energy

Investigates how sustainability can be implemented in a variety of contexts including water, energy, nonrenewable resources, biodiversity, and urban policy, and also how it could be measured.

Students attend weekly seminar to discuss current issues in global sustainability. Weekly attendance at Global Sustainability Forum also is required. Seminar utilized to analyze forum presentations and to prepare senior research paper. Prepare/ write research paper under the direction of a faculty member. Prerequisites: Earth System Science 190A-B and satisfaction of the lower-division writing requirement.

An introduction to the physical environment, biological systems, and human-environment interactions. Explores physical principles such as fluid transport and reaction rates using environmental examples as well as principles of populations, ecosystems, carrying capacity, and sustainable use of resources.

Between 25-49% of the course content (e.g., readings, papers, tests, discussion or other assignments) focuses on at least one of the 13 sustainability criteria listed in the UCI sustainability curriculum definition.

Explores past, present, and projected changes in Earth’s climate. Topics include paleoclimate records and mechanisms of natural climate variability at a range of timescales (orbital to seasonal); General Circulation Models; and IPCC observations and projections of future climate change.

Applications of the tools covered in Economics 145E to such topics as global warming, destruction of the ozone layer, and emissions trading. Emphasis on independent research papers. Syllabus and classes include writing technique. Prerequisites: Economics 15A-B, 145E, and satisfactory completion of the lower-division writing requirement.

Basic principles, design, and operation of sustainable energy systems including wind, solar photo-voltaic and thermal, hydroelectric, geothermal, oceanic, biomass combustion, advanced coal, and next generation nuclear. Includes power generation, storage, and transmission for stationary power generation. Prerequisite: MAE115.

Lecture, three hours. Examination of current issues related to the atmosphere, including energy usage; toxicology; effects on humans, forest, plants, and ecosystems; particulate matter (PM10); combustion; modeling and meteorology; airborne toxic chemicals and risk assessment; application of science to development of public policies. Prerequisite: One course selected from Chemistry 245, Earth System Science 202, Engineering MAE164, Engineering MAE261, or consent of instructor.

Lecture, three hours. Examination of current issues related to the atmosphere, including energy usage; toxicology; effects on humans, forest, plants, and ecosystems; particulate matter (PM10); combustion; modeling and meteorology; airborne toxic chemicals and risk assessment; application of science to development of public policies. Prerequisite: One course selected from Chemistry 245, Earth System Science 202, Engineering MAE164, Engineering MAE261, or consent of instructor.

Fundamentals of gaseous, liquid, and coal-fired combustion and fuel cell systems. Fuels, fuelair mixing, aerodynamics, and combustion and fuel cell thermodynamics. Operating and design aspects of practical systems including engines, power generators, boilers, furnaces, and incinerators. Prerequisite: MAE115. (Design units: 2)