Building Expertise on Energy Sustainability (BEES): An Integrative Model to Increase Research and Education in Energy Sustainability

Jose F. Espiritu; Heidi A. Taboada

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Conference: 2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Vancouver, BC
Publication Date: June 26, 2011
Start Date: June 26, 2011
End Date: June 29, 2011
ISSN: 2153-5965
Conference Session: IE Technical Session II
Tagged Division: Industrial Engineering
Page Count: 8
Page Numbers: 22.303.1 - 22.303.8
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--17584
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/17584
Download Count: 414

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Paper Authors

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Jose F. Espiritu University of Texas, El Paso

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Dr. Jose F. Espiritu is an Assistant Professor in the Industrial, Manufacturing and Systems Engineering Department at The University of Texas, El Paso. He is interested in interdisciplinary research that focuses in the understanding of the energy and sustainability challenges and alternative energy issues through innovative solutions for consumers and industry. His research work has been published in several recognized journals such as Electric Power Systems Research, The Engineering Economist, Journal of Risk and Reliability, among others.

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Heidi A. Taboada University of Texas, El Paso

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Dr. Heidi A. Taboada is currently an Assistant Professor in the department of Industrial, Manufacturing and Systems Engineering at The University of Texas, El Paso. Her research strengths involve the development of practical methods for the solution of multiple objective optimization problems, the design of new biologically inspired algorithms, sustainability engineering, and engineering education. Her research work has been published in several recognized journals such as IIE Transactions, IEEE Transactions on Reliability, and Reliability Engineering & Systems Safety, among others.

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Abstract

Building Expertise on Energy Sustainability (BEES) An Integrative Model to Increase Research and Education in Energy SustainabilityThe United States is currently facing a critical challenge to transform our current fossil fuel-based energy economy to a stable and sustainable energy economy. This transformation must beachieved in a timely manner to increase U.S. energy independence, enhance environmentalstewardship and reduce energy and carbon intensity, and generate continued economic growth.(National Science Foundation 2009, Building a Sustainable Energy Future). Moreover, theObama administration has placed a high priority on accelerating the transition to a "clean energy,green economy" in the U.S, a priority that makes the vital connections between climate change,economic stimulus, energy security, and job training. The missing link in this interconnectedsystem is the critical role that higher education must play in helping to make the clean energy,green economy a reality.This paper describes a model called “Building Expertise on Energy Sustainability (BEES)” toincrease research and education in Renewable Energy Systems within an existing industrialengineering program. The BEES model is a comprehensive approach composed of four keycomponents, which are: 1) Education, 2) Research, 3) Outreach, and 4) Connection. Eachcomponent consists of a set of structured activities to help increase education and research inrenewable energy systems.For the education component, a systems approach for curriculum development is used. The newcurriculum on Energy Sustainability provides an overview of the major energy flows and theissues associated with production and end-use. Major current sources of energy include fossilfuel, hydroelectric, nuclear power, and wind energy. In the research component, a Pair-2-learn(PAL) model is used to form teams of undergraduate and graduate students to work in specificresearch projects. In the outreach component, different lesson plans are developed for highschool teachers participating in the UTeach Miners program. The products provided under thiscomponent are complete handouts including (i) student activities, (ii) classroom modules,extensions, and homeworks and, (iii) teachers handouts in the Renewable Energy Systems andNatural Resources area. The main goal in the connection component is to build strongerconnections among different institutions, therefore guest speakers are invited to come to ourUniversity with the objective of providing a seminar, reviewing the curricula developed, share allmaterial developed and explore ways for future collaborations. Formative and summativeevaluations are used to assess the objectives of the BEES model.

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Espiritu, J. F., & Taboada, H. A. (2011, June), Building Expertise on Energy Sustainability (BEES): An Integrative Model to Increase Research and Education in Energy Sustainability Paper presented at 2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Vancouver, BC. 10.18260/1-2--17584

TY - CPAPER
AB - Building Expertise on Energy Sustainability (BEES) An Integrative Model to Increase Research and Education in Energy SustainabilityThe United States is currently facing a critical challenge to transform our current fossil fuel-based energy economy to a stable and sustainable energy economy. This transformation must beachieved in a timely manner to increase U.S. energy independence, enhance environmentalstewardship and reduce energy and carbon intensity, and generate continued economic growth.(National Science Foundation 2009, Building a Sustainable Energy Future). Moreover, theObama administration has placed a high priority on accelerating the transition to a &quot;clean energy,green economy&quot; in the U.S, a priority that makes the vital connections between climate change,economic stimulus, energy security, and job training. The missing link in this interconnectedsystem is the critical role that higher education must play in helping to make the clean energy,green economy a reality.This paper describes a model called “Building Expertise on Energy Sustainability (BEES)” toincrease research and education in Renewable Energy Systems within an existing industrialengineering program. The BEES model is a comprehensive approach composed of four keycomponents, which are: 1) Education, 2) Research, 3) Outreach, and 4) Connection. Eachcomponent consists of a set of structured activities to help increase education and research inrenewable energy systems.For the education component, a systems approach for curriculum development is used. The newcurriculum on Energy Sustainability provides an overview of the major energy flows and theissues associated with production and end-use. Major current sources of energy include fossilfuel, hydroelectric, nuclear power, and wind energy. In the research component, a Pair-2-learn(PAL) model is used to form teams of undergraduate and graduate students to work in specificresearch projects. In the outreach component, different lesson plans are developed for highschool teachers participating in the UTeach Miners program. The products provided under thiscomponent are complete handouts including (i) student activities, (ii) classroom modules,extensions, and homeworks and, (iii) teachers handouts in the Renewable Energy Systems andNatural Resources area. The main goal in the connection component is to build strongerconnections among different institutions, therefore guest speakers are invited to come to ourUniversity with the objective of providing a seminar, reviewing the curricula developed, share allmaterial developed and explore ways for future collaborations. Formative and summativeevaluations are used to assess the objectives of the BEES model.
AU - Jose F. Espiritu
AU - Heidi A. Taboada
CY - Vancouver, BC
DA - 2011/06/26
PB - ASEE Conferences
TI - Building Expertise on Energy Sustainability (BEES): An Integrative Model to Increase Research and Education in Energy Sustainability
UR - https://peer.asee.org/17584
DO - 10.18260/1-2--17584
ER -