Energy and Mineral Resources in Society

Energy and Mineral Resources in Society (ES 2210)

  • Instructor: Dr. Derek Sawyer
  • Meeting times: M-W-F; 11:30-12:25 pm
  • 3 credits

This is a General Education course in Natural Sciences/Physical Sciences. This course deals with the natural occurrence and global distribution of important mineral and energy resources and their uses and impacts on society, economic, and international relations.

Major Topics include: renewable energy (solar, hydroelectric, geothermal, wind, ocean). Non-renewable energy (coal, oil, natural gas), energy use at The Ohio State University, water resources, metallic ores, industrial minerals, and gemstones. Ā Current and impending mineral and fossil fuel shortages, and their possible impact on international relations.

The format of this course is a blend of lectures, discussions, class exercises, documentary excerpts, current news events, and a local field trip around campus in the warm spring weather.

This course will take a broad overview approach to some of these important questions of resources and sustainability in light of the current global population of 7+ billion people and growing:

  • Where does the energy that we rely on every day come from and where will it come from in the future?
  • How do we achieve sustainability for future
  • How much oil is left?
  • How do fossil fuels relate to climate change and sea level rise?
  • What is the future of renewable energy?
  • Why does Lake Erie have algal blooms?
  • How do nuclear power plants work and is nuclear energy dangerous?
  • Where are diamonds found?
  • What are rare earth metals and what do they have to do with smartphones?
  • All of these questions pertain to energy and natural resources and their fundamental importance to global economics and society.