Integrating science and policy: The case of an alternative energy course

The future of the energy industry has become the centerpiece of many technical, social and political debates in recent years and yet there is no comprehensive plan to include energy as a core requirement in undergraduate STEM programs. Since the current and future state of the energy industry has a direct effect on the daily lives of individuals, we believe that some degree of familiarity with this industry is of great value to our students; especially to those who major in engineering, sciences or other STEM related fields. As more natural resources are depleted and as the pursuit for alternative sources of energy to replace fossil fuels continues, it is important to prepare the next generation of students for the many challenges that lie ahead. In accordance with the efforts to provide our undergraduate students with an interdisciplinary curriculum, we have designed and implemented an energy course that focuses on the science and technology aspects of the energy industry and also it examines the important role that policies, policy makers and the government play in shaping the future of the energy industry. This paper presents some of the highlights of this cross-disciplinary course, which is an example of a possible synergy between STEM disciplines and the social science fields.