This course introduces students to our domestic energy system and the expanding efforts to develop our use and acceptance of sustainable energy. It provides a historical context of our system that explains where we are today in terms of the grid, technologies, energy use and production and energy markets, primarily for electricity and building use. The course examines how our current impedes and enhances opportunities for innovation in renewable technologies and financing.

The course is designed for students who desire a deeper understanding of chemical principles in environmental- and ecology-related disciplines. This course will focus on understanding key principles that underline many of the important chemical processes that influence the functioning and health of environmental systems. These include reaction rates, oxidation-reduction, kinetics and enzyme dynamics, pH and acid-base equilibria, organic transformations, colloids and particulate behavior, and analytical approaches to understanding environmental chemistry. Prereq: CHEM 403, CHEM 405 or CHEM 411.

Contemporary natural resource and environmental policy problems/issues are addressed from a policy sciences perspective with emphasis on domestic policy solutions. Critical assessment of major policy initiatives and their implementation toward sustainable resource use and a healthy environment. Public policies are analyzed to determine the extent to which their implementation strategies have succeeded, and to assess their adequacy within a bioregional or ecosystem approach, and/or capacity to integrate economic and environmental decisions. Cases include national and local policies in their global context. Students apply public policy analysis and decision tools in laboratory sessions. Prereq: junior/senior; Restricted to NR majors or by Permission. Special fee. Writing intensive.

Contemporary natural resource and environmental policy problems/issues are addressed from a policy sciences perspective with emphasis on domestic policy solutions. Critical assessment of major policy initiatives and their implementation toward sustainable resource use and a healthy environment. Public policies are analyzed to determine the extent to which their implementation strategies have succeeded, and to assess their adequacy within a bioregional or ecosystem approach, and/or capacity to integrate economic and environmental decisions. Cases include national and local policies in their global context. Students apply public policy analysis and decision tools in laboratory sessions. Prereq: junior/senior; Restricted to NR majors or by Permission. Special fee. Writing intensive.