Clean Energy Technologies

Offering students an intellectual, ethical, and practical grounding in how to reduce their carbon emissions to contribute to global sustainability goals. In an action-based transformative way this course is designed to empower students with a comprehensive understanding of the imperative and practice of individual level decarbonization. Grounded in an interdisciplinary approach, the course integrates insights from philosophy, critical social science, climate science, engineering, economics, medicine and public policy. By the end of the course, students will be equipped with enough knowledge and tools to critically analyze their carbon footprints and develop actionable informed strategies to reduce their personal environmental impact where they live, now.

Learning Outcomes

1. Calculate and interpret your own carbon footprint and compare it with global averages.
2. Record and analyze air quality and emissions data.
3. Debate ethical dilemmas (individual vs. systemic responsibility) using philosophical and psychological arguments.
4. Summarize case studies on climate ethics and inequality.
5. Global and national policy frameworks for decarbonization, including major climate agreements.
6. Barriers to effective climate action and strategies for resilience and accountability.
7. Pathways for linking personal choices with systemic change.

And you will be able to…

• Design and present a decarbonization strategy (individually or in groups) that integrates science, ethics, economics, and policy.
• Develop and advocate for a policy proposal addressing a local or global decarbonization challenge.
• Critically evaluate media and policy narratives about climate change using course concepts.
• Reflect on your personal growth in applying decarbonization strategies and propose next steps for long-term action.

Tangible Outcomes

Design and present an individual or group decarbonization strategy that integrates scientific, ethical, economic, and policy insights.

• Written plan (5 pages) with data, analysis, and reflection.
• Oral or visual presentation (poster, slideshow, or short video).

Hands-on Activities

• Lab work and lab reports
• Team collaboration in actionable plans for local and regional sustainability

Guest Speakers

• Dr Justin Mankin: Associate Professor, Department of Geography, Dartmouth College
• Graduate Program in Ecology, Evolution, Ecosystems, & Society (EEES)
• Adjunct Associate Research Scientist, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory
• Dr. Maron Greenleaf; Assistant Professor, Anthropology Dartmouth College
• Affiliate of Ecology, Evolution, Environment & Society (EEES) PhD Program; Environmental Law
• and others TBA

Field Trips

• Looking at glacial sinks and movement in Upper Valley
• Cold Regions Research Engineering Laboratory

Information is subject to change as instructors finalize course content and syllabi.