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Interdisciplinary Minor in Hydrogen Technology at Michigan Technological University

Abstract

In this paper we describe the formation and administration of a new minor in hydrogen and fuel cell technology at Michigan Technological University. To receive the 16 credit minor, students are required to satisfy requirements in four areas, which are: Participation in multiple semesters of the Alternative Fuels Group Enterprise, where students work on hands-on integration, design, and/or research projects in hydrogen and fuel cells Taking a fuel cell course Taking a lecture or laboratory course on hydrogen energy Taking discipline-specific elective courses

In addition to describing the minor, the paper will also describe the content of the Alternative Fuels Group Enterprise as well as the fuel cell and hydrogen energy courses.

Introduction

The search for alternative energy sources is an area that has received great attention in the last few years, beginning with the January 2003 State of the Union address by President George W. Bush, approving federal funding for hydrogen fuel cell research for passenger vehicles. Similar announcements were made by state governors, most notably Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, stating “not only will we build these cars in Michigan, our Automotive Technology Corridor will help develop the fuel cell technology those cars will run on.”

Inherent within the nation’s initiative should be the development of educational programs related to fuel cells and other aspects of the hydrogen economy, including advantages and disadvantages. This is important since hydrogen has been proposed for use in transportation applications as a replacement fuel for gasoline, with fuel cells replacing the internal combustion engine. As such, the Energy Policy Act of 2005 was passed by the 109th Congress1 as Public Law 109–58. This bill contained the Spark M. Matsunaga Hydrogen Act of 2005 (cf Sections 801- 816)1. One aspect of this bill was to fund the development of university education programs. These programs are described in more detail in the Department of Energy Multi-Year Research, Development, and Demonstration Plan2.

Michigan Technological University is receiving federal support under this act, with an emphasis on new course development, development of an interdisciplinary minor, and development of modules that can be used to supplement the traditional curriculum with information about hydrogen and fuel cell technology. The focus of this paper is on the courses and projects associated with the minor.

Formation of an Interdisciplinary Minor in Hydrogen Technology

Beginning in the fall semester of 2008, a draft proposal for an “Interdisciplinary Minor in Hydrogen Technology” was created by the authors of this paper. The home for the minor was in

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Keith, J., & Crowl, D., & Caspary, D., & Allen, J., & Naber, J., & Meng, D., & Mukherjee, A., & Lukowski, J., & Meldrum, J., & Solomon, B. (2010, June), Interdisciplinary Minor In Hydrogen Technology At Michigan Technological University Paper presented at 2010 Annual Conference & Exposition, Louisville, Kentucky. 10.18260/1-2--16096