Global Energy: Past, Present, and Future

Tom Cinq-Mars, Instructional Staff at the Duke Energy Initiative 

The use of energy throughout human history is explored, starting from the earliest beginnings of humanity to modern power generation. This course will consider the development of different primary energy sources over time, the history of various energy conversion and storage technologies, and the establishment of modern thermal sciences. A major focus of this course is the investigation of how these developments affected and still affect societal, economic, military, and technological change and growth. Understanding the historical trends related to energy use and power generation will allow for better informed prediction of humanity’s energy future. This course will combine engineering and social sciences to study various periods in human history, including Agricultural Revolutions, the Industrial Revolution, and Digital and Information Revolutions.

Rebecca Simmons, Associate Professor of the Practice in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science 

Stefano Curtarolo, Edmund T. Pratt Jr. School Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science; Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering; Professor in the Department of Physics

In this course, students learn and apply the engineering design process to solve an authentic energy design problem. A variety of local and international nonprofits, companies, medical facilities, and organizations pose real-world design questions related to sustainable energy. Students are placed on a team based on their project preference, working together for the duration of the semester to solve these questions.  The first half of the course is devoted to defining and researching a design problem, establishing design goals, brainstorming solutions, and using a decision matrix to select a solution. The second half of the course focuses on prototype development, iteration, and testing with the goal of meeting the established design goals. The final goal of the design project can be a functional device prototype or a new process or computer program. Students develop their communication skills by writing technical documents and giving oral presentations.

Brian Murray, Director, Duke University Energy Initiative; Research Professor, Nicholas School of the Environment and Sanford School of Public Policy

Energy use is essential to all aspects of modern life and a significant determinant of economic and social opportunity throughout the world. Yet energy production, distribution and use, if left unchecked, can have detrimental effects on the environment and society. Of particular significance is the role that energy from fossil fuel combustion can play in disrupting the planet’s climate system. This course will explore how public policies affect the way in which energy is produced and used and how policies can be designed to advance a more accessible, affordable, reliable and clean energy system. It will draw on material from multiple disciplines to gain a deeper understanding of the breadth and depth of factors affecting our current energy system. Students will have an opportunity to directly engage with experts from the public and private sector to gain insights into policy options for a more sustainable and equitable energy system and to better understand the consequences of those policies for the environment, economy and society.  

Nico Hotz, Associate Professor of the Practice in the Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science and Faculty Network Member of The Energy Initiative

This course explores novel materials and technologies that have the promise to fundamentally transform the current energy infrastructure. With the ever-growing global demand for clean, efficient, and affordable energy, entirely new approaches are needed to solve the potential energy crisis humanity is facing. This course presents a broad introduction to a wide range of materials and technologies. Several faculty members from different engineering departments discuss emerging topics in materials science and engineering related to their research, including novel photovoltaic and photocatalytic materials, solar-thermal applications, thermoelectric power generation, batteries and other electrochemical systems, biomass-derived fuels, and computational materials science for discovery of novel materials. The understanding of these approaches is deepened through readings, case studies, and student presentations.