CivE 107

Course Number: CivE107

Course Name: Climate Change Mitigation

Units: 3

When is it offered? Spring

Requirement Satisfied: Upper-div engineering elective

Concentration(s): Energy & Environment

Summary: Introduction to the causes and consequences of climate change, exploration of alternative energy methods and carbon dioxide mitigation options

Official Prerequisites: Physics 7AB, Math 54 Chem 1AB

LEGIT Prerequisites: None (complementary with CE111)

Topics Covered: 1. provides background for the causes of climate change (fossil-fuel based energy systems) before 2. exploring various alternative energy systems (wind, photovoltaics, biofuels, fuel cells) and 3. exploring methods of active co2 reduction (carbon capture)

Workload: Weekly problem sets (25%), 2 midterms (15% each), and one final (45%). The problem sets are relatively easy to complete with the help of lecture notes. If necessary, discussion/office hour assistance should be able to fill in any gaps.

When to take? Anytime

"Whats next" Courses? CivE111 (environmental engineering), CBE195 (Carbon capture)

Usefulness for research / internships: Too general to be useful for a specific energy engineering position. Although the course provides an overview of how renewable energy systems work (solar, fuel cells, etc.), might not be in-depth enough to provide the knowledge necessary to work in a lab, etc. It's a good class to show demonstrable interest in renewables and can be a building block for further exploration

Added Comments or Tips: Prof Nazaroff taught this course for almost 15 years and recently retired. However, even with a new professor the course should not be too challenging to succeed in. Coming in having taken CBE140 will provide you with more than enough background knowledge to model systems and solve simple mass and energy balances. Nazaroff's class was extremely well-organized with supplemental materials, lecture notes, and homework/test solutions all provided (hopefully this model continues)