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The time is certainly right for a class with this title. The science is as clear as it can be: the continued increase of greenhouse gases has the potential to wreck global havoc in this century. The technology exists: if we can scale up and lower costs, we can rapidly unleash a clean-energy revolution. And even the politics, world-wide, is changing. For example, one can make a case that Australia has a new prime minister because of his stance on global warming. As Bob Dylan sang back in the 1960s, “The times, they are a changin’!” This course will be about what the world needs to do, now, to accelerate these changes. After introducing our topic and the concept of 'open source learning,' we will study the science of global warming: what can we be sure of? What remains unknown? Why is it so urgent to create 'global warming solutions?' After studying how to motivate others to act with words and images, we will dedicate ourselves to the process of creating knowledge. Specifically, we will analyze a range of potential global warming solutions, focussing on economics, technology, and institution building. As we conclude the class, let's ask ourselves: will our ideas help to accelerate the world’s clean-energy transformation? This will be one measure of our success. In addition to this course webpage, we will collaborate on two online tools. In our course blog, we will communicate about course readings, our writing assignments, current events - and the process of getting used to being a college student. In addition, we will create, together, a Global Warming Solutions wiki. This latter project has great potential to be useful for others, well outside of Middlebury college, for a long time. A few notes about this course webpage. Our course schedule is our 13-week road map for our reading, writing and discussions. Throughout the semester, please contact me at the coordinates listed on the 'professor' page. I look forward to working with you this semester. Professor Isham |
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