SCN 3604: Green and Blue Technology Solutions
4 advanced liberal arts credits
Green and blue technologies, (also collectively referred to as “cleantech”, “greentech”, or “envirotech”), use science to understand and address negative impacts and promote new approaches to support human activity and economic growth that are less harmful to natural systems. While emergent green and blue technologies often hold promise of creating a more sustainable future, there is a wide range of associated challenges to seeing them adopted and in some cases avoiding unintended consequences of such adoption.
In this course we will explore different technology solutions across three thematic areas: Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation, Resource Use, and Pollution Control. We consider the role that technology can play in addressing socio-ecological challenges and develop a framework for evaluating emerging technologies and designing new ones. The course will also include opportunities for students to engage with professionals in cleantech fields. The course will host a guest speaker for each of the three themes of the course (climate, resources, pollution). The course will also offer optional field trips that will allow students to observe and experience different local initiatives to develop cost effective sustainable technologies. The overall goal of this course is for students to develop the tools and thinking necessary to understand our current, critical environmental challenges and identify the role that technology and business may play in developing solutions that are efficient, equitable, and sustainable.
Prerequisites: NST 10%%