EGEE 510,  Engineering Chemistry of  EGEE Systems, Fall 2004, 2005, 2006:

Collaboratively evolved course content from GeoEE 510, to significantly expand structure and content to meet requirements of (the then new) Energy & Geo-Environmental Engineering graduate degree (2004).   Introduced section on surface chemistry and adsorption (2004).  Developed an inquiry-based learning exercise for development of a surface characterization technique library (2004). Reorganized thermodynamics section to meet needs of students with diverse backgrounds (2005). Introduced modified self-paced structure as class coordinator (2005-2006). 

EGEE 301,  Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics, Fall 2006, 2007, 2008:

Per teaching philosophy (see narrative) increased relative concentration of quantitative versus qualitative course coverage (2006), including selection of a textbook written from an engineering (chemical engineering) rather than physics perspective in order to have more relevant engineering example problems and coverage (2007).  Substituted a “general engineering” textbook to develop coverage ‘hybrid’ to mechanical and chemical engineering thermodynamics in response to EME program feedback and student comments (2008).

EGEE 410,  Fuel Cells, Spring 2004, 2005, 2006:

Introduced hydrogen technology component (50% of course in 2004; 33% of course in 2005 & 2006) to existing course on Fuel Cells.  Added sections on sustainable energy, political issues relating to the hydrogen economy, assumptions that affect the feasibility of the transition to a hydrogen economy, hydrogen storage, hydrogen production, experimental design for hydrogen storage, and hydrogen safety (2004).  Added significant technical content on adsorption and surface science with laboratory on experimental design and analysis (2005).  Introduced an independent student research project that included literature review, research proposal, laboratory measurements, then data analysis and interpretation of hydrogen storage capacity of state-of-the-art materials supplied from the larger hydrogen storage community (2007).

EGEE 101,  Energy & The Environment, Fall 2004, 2005:

Introduced inquiry-based learning (with support/direction from PSU’s Schreyer InSPIRE program) to existing course structure.  Provided general education students with thematic learning exercises to encourage critical analysis of information they read or hear about energy.  Demonstrated through active course exercises and direct assignments how these numbers are calculated, what the weaknesses are, and different ways in which the numbers may be interpreted.   Significant K-12 outreach project led to peer-reviewed publication in educational journal (2004).

FSc 464, Fuel Plant Design, Spring 2006 & 2007:

Introduced substantial design component, including full-scale plant design using chemical engineering process simulation software (2006).  Senior-level engineering design projects included coal gasification with carbon sequestration (2006), and coal or biomass to hydrogen (2007). 

GeoEE 480, Process Design in Geo-Environmental Engineering, Spring 2004, 2005:

Introduced substantial section on formal engineering problem-solving heuristics, team work, and project management (2004).  Incorporated a local remediation project involving interaction with Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and Environmental Protection engineers and field trip to remediation site (2005).