Charged Up: 'Energy Currents' Discussion Series Introduces Undergraduates to Energy and Climate Fundamentals

In the United States, we tend not to think much about energy unless something isn't working — the power goes out, fuel prices skyrocket, and so on. To help move the needle on climate change, young adults who will soon be out in the world, leading, making decisions for themselves, their companies, and their communities, need to be prepared to "see" energy — both in terms of how it supports our modern lives and how it contributes to global warming. "Part of our goal is to make the invisible visible," explained Dr. Megan Litwhiler, Manager of Academic Initiatives at the Arthur L. Irving Institute for Energy and Society, "helping students to see where and how energy impacts their lives and the lives of their communities and planet so that when they graduate, even if they don't go into 'energy' careers, they are better prepared to make informed decisions and choices." 

Enter Energy Currents. 

For the past five years, the Irving Institute has coordinated offered a not-for-credit "crash course" in energy fundamentals with colleagues at the Revers Center for Energy, Sustainability, and Innovation, the Sustainability Office, and the Thayer School of Engineeringprimarily aimed at undergraduates. Operating under the name "Energy 101," the program aimed goal was to offer learners an "ankle-deep" introduction to energy and society terms, concepts, and contexts. The Institute offered Energy 101 was offered in a number of formats, including in-person, online, and hybrid, with each session building upon the previous. 

This year, said Dr. Amanda Graham, Institute Academic Director, "we decided to try something different." The Institute education team developed a new format, using energy and climate stories in the news as a basis to host casual discussions about key concepts, terminologies, issues, and challenges. Over the course of five evenings during the winter 2023 term, students would gather in the Irving Institute Project Hub, enjoy some pizza, and talk with each other and session leaders about a few pre-assigned articles or videos, ranging from topics like the UN climate summit to community power to making energy and climate choices. Guest experts from the College, including Thayer Professor Erin Mayfield, Geography Professor Justin Mankin, and Irving Institute Executive Director April Salas, joined sessions to share their expertise and perspective and answer questions. [You can see session topics and pre-readings/videos here.]

Energy Currents, like its predecessor Energy 101, was intended to be an on-ramp into energy and climate for students who have little background in the subjects but a lot of curiosity. "We wanted to create an environment where students felt comfortable not having the answers and where they felt they could ask about even the most basic concepts," said Dr. Litwhiler. "And while, ideally, this is just the beginning of these students' engagement with the Irving Institute," she continued, "no matter where their Dartmouth travels take them, we're hopeful that they are now better prepared to see the way energy shapes the world and act with insight on that information."