IGERT: TRAINING PROGRAM IN SUSTAINABLE ENERGY RECOVERY FROM THE EARTH – EDUCATIONAL INNOVATION AT THE INTERSECTION OF GEOSCIENCES AND ENGINEERING

Earth’s growing population is predicted to consume far more energy at the end of the 21^st century. Increased consumption will increase the depletion of conventional hydrocarbons, the pressure to consume more coal and unconventional hydrocarbons, and related environmental impacts. To achieve larger yet more sustainable energy supplies requires the development of a larger workforce of scientists and engineers who understand earth sciences, energy engineering, and energy economics. Our “IGERT: Training Program in Sustainable Energy Recovery from the Earth – Educational Innovation at the Intersection of Geosciences and Engineering” (2010-2015) addresses development of this workforce.

Many of the energy technologies of rising importance involve Earth’s subsurface and involve engineering activity (e.g., drilling, enhancing permeability, stimulating heavy hydrocarbons, sealing spent boreholes). This activity interacts with natural groundwater systems, may involve exchange with surface water, may alter the stress field in the rock, and involves risks of undesirable consequences. A new generation of energy specialists needs to combine deep disciplinary knowledge with understanding of the environmental, social, political and economic aspects and impacts of energy technologies.

Our IGERT breaks traditional disciplinary barriers. Students, admitted to disciplinary graduate fields, spend half of their first two PhD program years in a series of courses, mini-courses, and projects that couple geosciences, engineering, economics, and ethics. The authors plus other geoscientists (R. B. Lohman, J. Phipps-Morgan, M. Pritchard) and other engineers are instructors and advisors. Core courses on Energy Analysis, Earth System Behavior and Resources, Earth Properties, and Risk and Uncertainty are sought also by students not supported by IGERT. Thus far, case study mini-courses focus on Geothermal Energy, Geological Carbon Sequestration, and Unconventional Gas Recovery from Shales. Annual field-based projects, involving engineering design and geology, are being developed.

In year 1, students trained in engineering showed more interest than students from earth sciences degree programs. A problem recruiting some geological sciences students is a lack of completion of even a year of calculus or physics.