Energy and its Politics - HPSC2750
 
Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
 
 
School:  School of History and Philosophy
 
 
Course Outline: See below
 
 
Campus: Kensington Campus
 
 
Career: Undergraduate
 
 
Units of Credit: 6
 
 
EFTSL: 0.125 (more info)
 
 
Contact Hours per Week: 3
 
 
Enrolment Requirements:
 
 
Prerequisite: 36 units of credit
 
 
Equivalent: SCTS3128
 
 
Fee Band: 2 (more info)
 
 
Further Information: See Class Timetable
 
 

Description


Energy is fundamental to our way of life. Global energy use continues to expand, straining resources and increasing pollution. Australia has resolved to provide 2% extra electricity from clean renewable sources by 2010 yet Denmark is on track to provide 20% from these sources by 2003. There is currently intense jockeying between countries over these matters. Explores energy options, analysing the economic, political, environmental and technical constraints upon them, in light of major current imperatives - climate change and the deregulation of the energy industry. Emphasises matters such as the viability of solar energy and the future of nuclear power.


Learning Outcomes


In this course students will:
  • Gain both an outline appreciation of the technical characteristics of energy technologies and the broader socio-political and economic factors involved in the development and implementation of these technologies
  • Gain both the knowledge to enable them to constructively participate in contemporary energy policy debates, notably those regarding climate change and technological responses to it, and the skills to contribute to public policy debates more broadly.

Assessment


  • Tutorial presentation - 10%
  • Two tutorial papers - 20%
  • Participation - 10%
  • Major essay (2500 words) - 40%