PA 5790 is also offered in Spring 2025
PA 5790 is also offered in Spring 2024
PA 5790 is also offered in Spring 2023
PA 5790 is also offered in Spring 2022
Fall 2013 | PA 5790 Section 002: Topics in Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy -- Material-Energy Flows & Society (35603)
- Instructor(s)
- Class Component:
- Lecture
- Credits:
- 3 Credits
- Grading Basis:
- Student Option
- Instructor Consent:
- No Special Consent Required
- Instruction Mode:
- In Person Term Based
- Meets With:
PA 5022 Section 004
- Times and Locations:
Regular Academic Session
UMTC, West Bank
Carlson School of Management L-118
- Also Offered:
- Course Catalog Description:
- Selected topics.
- Class Notes:
- For MS-STEP students, this class can fulfill the 5722 requirement.
- Class Description:
- OVERVIEW: How do material and energy flows shape development of a sustainable society? Material-Energy Flows will be discussed in the context of: A) Resource depletion and recycling, B) Economic development, and, C) As a source of environmental pollution. Students will learn skills of direct material-energy flow analysis (MEFA), life cycle assessment (LCA), the combination of MEFA and LCA for environmental footprint-ing, economic input-output analysis, and cost benefit analysis for resource extractions/recycling decisions as well as pollution abatement decisions. The first half of the course will focus on general principles and methods in. In the second half, students will work on group projects, handling real-world data to develop environmental footprints of different units of society: 1. Production Systems ? businesses or industries 2. Infrastructure systems (energy supply, water supply); 3. Consumers (households) 4. Different Regions: National, State and Metropolitan/ City scales WEEKLY PLAN: Week 1 - Overview of Material-Energy Flows in Society: Global resources, renewable and non-renewable, Units and Conversions, Issues of material scarcity and interdependence of water-energy and materials Week 2: Material-Energy Flows in Different Units of Society: Producers (Industry and Businesses), Infrastructure (water supply, energy supply, transportation systems, etc.), Consumers (households), and Regions (nations, cities, metropolitan areas). Issues of resource scarcity and environmental pollution, and their relationship with sustainability. Week 3-4: General Principles/Methods:MEFA at different scales; MEFA and the Economy, Introduction to Economic Input Output tables. Week 5-6: General Principles & Methods: Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Combining MEFA with LCA to develop resource use and pollution emission footprints Week 7-8: General Principles & Methods: Cost-Benefit Analysis for decisions about resource extraction, recycling and environmental pollution abatement Week 9-11: Material-Energy Use and Sustainability of Production Systems- Economic Aspects - Technical and economic feasibility of resource extraction and recycling, Cost-benefit analysis and decision-making Environmental Performance of products, industries and infrastructure services Examples of the mining industry, water or energy infrastructure, fisheries and recycling systems. Week 11: Material-Energy Flows and Sustainability of Consumers - focus on households, quality of life and sufficiency Week 12-14: Material-Energy Flows and Regional Sustainability - We will study the economy (GDP, job creation), resource use, and pollution footprints of cities, states and the US economy. Week 15: Final Presentation GRADING: 45% for three quizzes interspersed in the weeks; 30% for homework; and 25% for the group project. STUDENTS: Graduate or senior level standing, with high math literacy. INSTRUCTOR: Anu Ramaswami
- Grading:
- 45% Quizzes Other Grading Information: 30% for Homework. 25% for Group Project.
- Textbooks:
- https://bookstores.umn.edu/course-lookup/35603/1139
- Instructor Supplied Information Last Updated:
- 12 December 2013
ClassInfo Links - Fall 2013 Public Affairs Classes