Back to Our Energy Future
University of California San Diego

Our Energy Future

This course is designed to introduce students to the issues of energy in the 21st century – including food and fuels – which are inseparably linked – and will discuss energy production and utilization from the biology, engineering, economics, climate science, and social science perspectives. This course will cover the current production and utilization of energy, as well as the consequences of this use, examining finite fossil energy reserves, how food and energy are linked, impacts on the environment and climate, and the social and economic impacts of our present energy and food production and use. After the introductory lectures, we will examine the emerging field of sustainable energy, fuel and food production, emphasizing the importance of developing energy efficient and sustainable methods of production, and how these new technologies can contribute to replacing the diminishing supplies of fossil fuels, and reduce the consequences of carbon dioxide release into the environment. This course will also cover the importance of creating a sustainable energy future for all societies including those of the developing world. Lectures will be prepared and delivered by leading UC San Diego and Scripps Institution of Oceanography faculty and industry professionals across these areas of expertise.

Status: Pollution Prevention
Status: Biological Engineering
Course39 hours

Featured reviews

MH

5.0Reviewed Mar 19, 2020

A very interesting course that really does explain all the renewable energies in great detail and what effect our civilisation is having on the planet.

EB

4.0Reviewed Apr 5, 2019

Good overview of some of the efforts made towards alternative energies as well as the trends and status of the current energy industry. Well composed with some considerable insight.

MA

5.0Reviewed Nov 1, 2020

You get taught by highly qualified lecturers and focus mainly on key themes such as renewable energy sources and climate change. I recommend this course to all professionals!

AO

5.0Reviewed Dec 2, 2019

It was a very helpful course! I didn't knew a lot about biofuels, so it was very complementary with the knowledge I already had about other technologies and their sustainable development.

SK

5.0Reviewed Oct 3, 2015

One of the great course I ever attended...well structured, very fruitful...definitely guided me to do something for clean energy and green environment..Thank you all professors...

FV

4.0Reviewed Mar 25, 2024

I enjoyed the course and have a deeper understanding of Energy Industry after completing this course. The various course instructors was very good also.

NF

4.0Reviewed Jul 20, 2020

It was a very good course. A lot of topics very important to understand and know about energy, renewables and others issues related to this topic. Thanks

IG

5.0Reviewed Apr 25, 2016

An excellent course for environmentally conscious individuals interested in the different options we have to create a 100% renewable energy future.

DW

5.0Reviewed Nov 27, 2020

I wanted to learn something new and this was a fantastic course to develop a baseline knowledge. The content was interesting and the community of experts added to the quality of this course

AM

5.0Reviewed Sep 29, 2016

Very informative course even for someone with a prior knowledge in a particular segment in renewable energy. Covers diverse energy resources along with economic, and environmental considerations.

NW

5.0Reviewed Sep 18, 2018

A lot of really great material, and the Week 9 "Office Hours" are well worth the time. The course would benefit from mentoring and perhaps some more recent data,

AR

4.0Reviewed Dec 27, 2017

Course is very tough and seeks too much of time. Asking too many question individual week and also posted plenty of questions each week. This course is not for the beginners.

All reviews

Showing: 20 of 319

Olve Maudal
4.0
Reviewed Jun 9, 2019
Chase Schwalbach
1.0
Reviewed Jan 10, 2020
Aleksandra Visich
5.0
Reviewed Nov 21, 2019
Vibushan A
5.0
Reviewed Apr 3, 2020
David Delorme
5.0
Reviewed Nov 27, 2015
Juan
5.0
Reviewed Oct 31, 2016
Ankit Moldgy
5.0
Reviewed Sep 29, 2016
vinod pillai
3.0
Reviewed Jan 29, 2018
Michael Blonsky
2.0
Reviewed Dec 29, 2016
Abang Ashaari
5.0
Reviewed Jan 15, 2016
Agatha Soful
5.0
Reviewed Sep 29, 2015
Zulfiqar Ali
5.0
Reviewed Oct 22, 2018
Naresh Rodrigo
5.0
Reviewed Jul 30, 2020
Mallika Jain
5.0
Reviewed Apr 21, 2020
Heng Wei Chong
5.0
Reviewed Jul 22, 2020
Adarsh
5.0
Reviewed Nov 20, 2016
Yaroslav Kovalenko
5.0
Reviewed Feb 12, 2018
Thaney Alamo
5.0
Reviewed May 8, 2017
Daria Barsuk
5.0
Reviewed Apr 24, 2021
Sebastian arrese
5.0
Reviewed Dec 16, 2015