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Study Abroad Information for Current Linfield Students

January Term Abroad

PHYS-398  China's Solutions to Energy Issues in the 21st Century

No physics background is required or expected. DON'T MISS THIS UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY! As a result of nationwide industrialization within the past two decades, the rate of energy consumption in China is increasing every year. In 2000, China used one half the energy of the United States, but in 2009 China surpassed the United States as the world’s largest energy user. With these rapid changes, the Chinese government is paying more attention to developing energy resources, including clean energy sources such as solar energy, wind power, bio-fuel, and geological heat. As a matter of fact, China invested $54.4 billion toward research of clean energy in 2010 alone (The US invested $34 billion over the same period). These efforts are now paying off since China is the largest producer of photovoltaics in the world. Meanwhile, China is developing a new approach to build nuclear power plant, which will be safer and more efficient. This course is designed to explore China’s approaches to address its energy related issues, especially in regard to developing low-carbon energy sources. In the process, students will reflect on ways for how we in the United States can approach the same problems. In our course, we will visit several important manufactures and government owned research facilities related to energy. We will have opportunities to walk through the product line of making solar panels, to visit coal power plant, wind power field, solar power plant and the Three-Gorge hydro power plant. We will also visit one nuclear power plant near Shanghai. We will have opportunity to talk to engineers, scientists, and other experts about these approaches. In addition to learning about the technical side of energy production, students will have opportunities to explore the Chinese culture and to eat authentic Chinese food. We are scheduled to visit Beijing to climb the great wall and visit the Forbidden City. Also, we will travel to Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Dezhou – the center of solar energy production.

Prerequisite: Fall semester prior to JT'14 departure, students will be required to enroll and participate in the IDST 098 Orientation to International Study (1 credit).

Faculty: Professor Tianbao Xie & Professor Michael Crosser

Fees: Program Fee: $5000 Estimated Air: $1400
Credits: 4
LC: NW or GP