The online course Climate, Energy and the Environment is taught in the fall semester, starting immediately after the start of the semester.

The course consists of:

• Lectures (self-study): The lecture plan will be published in Fronter. After students have paid their registration fee and have been registered they will be given a username and password which will enable them to use Fronter. Exercises with answers are also posted on Fronter. The course includes six hours of lectures per week. The material covered in the lectures must be covered independently by online students.
• Workshops: A meeting for online students will be held at the college at the Bø campus in the autumn if this is desired. The course teacher may also be contacted via phone or e-mail.

Course description:

Central topics:

• The use of fossil fuels and other human activities which create environmental problems
• The increasing greenhouse effect and probable climate change
• Sources of renewable energy, nuclear energy and methods for improving energy efficiency
• Tropospheric ozone
• Damage to the ozone layer
• Acid precipitation
• Population growth as an environmental problem
• Fresh water situation and de-forestation

Learning objectives

Students will receive an introduction to the following global environmental problems: the increasing greenhouse effect, tropospheric ozone and acid precipitation. Students will gain insight into how these problems may be reduced.

Course examinations

The final grade for the course will be based on two written examinations. A 2-hour mid-term examination counts for 40% and a 3-hour final examination counts for 60% of the final grade. The examinations will be assessed internally by the course teacher.

The mid-term examination will be held in October.

The final examination will be held in early December.

The examinations may be held in the student’s local area under regular examination arrangements.

Reading list

Klima, energi og miljø, Arne Myhre, Universitetsforlaget 2008, ISBN 978-82-15-01322-0

In addition three chapters will be published on Fronter.

Admission

To gain admission to the study programme students should be able to satisfy general admission requirements (completion of upper secondary school education) or have other relevant education or practice. Students who do not have adequate background in science should expect the course to be demanding.

Application deadline

10 August 2010

Contact

Associate professor Arne Myhre

Tel. +47 35952780.
E-mail: arne.myhre@hit.no