The entire course involves two sections. The first section awards 7.5 credits and is given during period 1 and 2. The first section consists of three sub-parts that interacts throughout the course:
The first sub-part is an introduction to academic environmental studies. Here, central concepts such as sustainable development are discussed together with the importance of system thinking and different knowledge to solve engineering problems. In this introduction, information retrieval and introduction to scientific writing are also presented and used during a project assignment.
The second sub-part of the course is related to the programme profile; energy and environment. In this part, introduction to energy systems are presented and discussed in relation to how different aspects such as innovation, actors and environmental policy interact to address energy and environmental problems. This knowledge will be used during the project assignment. The departments and divisions that are strongly connected to the programme profile will participate and link to their specific areas.
The third sub-part is a project assignment where the students go into depth in the energy and environmental areas. In the project assigment connections are made between actors, environmental policy and the role of the engineer to address environment-related challenges in the energy sector. The assignment is presented orally and in written text. A critical opposition of another group’s work shall also be performed. .
A study visit is also included and links to the role of the engineer to develop solutions for a sustainable development in relation to energy and the environment.
Section two of the course awards 1.5 hp and introdudes Matlab. This section is given during period 3.
An important role of the course is to introduce the teachers and departments that under the forthcoming years will be responsible for the programme profile; energy and environment.