About the Climate & Sustainability Systems threadIt offers three tracks: Digital Cities, Energy Transition, and, Materials Machines
The Climate & Sustainability Systems thread provides training needed for innovating the materials, devices, processes, and networked systems to support the urgent and necessary transition towards net zero greenhouse gas emissions and a more sustainable planet. The thread will emphasize decarbonization across our energy, industrial, transportation and urban systems, while maintaining awareness of the potential for unintended consequences in shifting the burden to other social, economic and environmental metrics of sustainability.
About the Energy Transition track
The Energy Transition track of the Climate & Sustainability Systems thread provides training on energy production, conversion, storage, and transmission technologies that produce little to no CO2 or greenhouse emissions.
Requirements
In order to receive the NEET Climate & Sustainability Systems - Energy Transition certificate from the School of Engineering, scholars need to complete the following requirements (all classes are 12 units unless specified otherwise):
Note: The Advanced Materials Machines(AMM) and Renewable Energy Machines(REM) threads have become part of the Climate & Sustainability Systems thread. Materials Machines (formerly AMM) and Energy Transition (formerly REM) are tracks in this thread. The requirements, faculty and instructors for Materials Machines and Energy Transition will remain the same as they were for AMM and REM. Professors Elsa Olivetti (DMSE) and Mike Short (NSE) are co-leading the new thread.
Introductory Design Class (Recommended Sophomore Fall)
3.0061/22.03 Introduction to Design Thinking and Rapid Prototyping (6 units)or1.101 Introduction to Civil and Environmental Engineering Design I (6 units)or Course 2 Introductory Design Subject (such as 2.00, 2.00A, or 2.00B)
Intermediate Project Class (Recommended Sophomore Spring)
22.071 Analog Electronics From Circuits to the Zero-Carbon Grid (12 units)
Junior Capstone Project (Recommended Junior Spring)
1.020 Engineering Sustainability: Analysis and Design (12 units); or a SuperUROP in energy
Senior Capstone Project (Recommended Senior Fall)
TBA Large-scale design-build-test of complete energy system (12 units); or a SuperUROP in energy
Seminar (participation in 3 out of six seminars over the course of 3 years is a requirement, can do more)
22.003 Renewable Energy Machines Seminar (3 units) offered every semester
This interactive seminar is focused on identifying and solving major issues facing renewable energy. Each week features conversations with guest speakers from academia and industry who are experts in renewable energy and climate science.
Subjects to Additionally Earn an Energy Studies Minor
These subjects are not required for the NEET certificate, but are recommended to broaden your knowledge. If you complete these subjects, you will additionally earn an Energy Studies Minor.
● Energy Science Foundations: 8.21 Physics of Energy or 12.021 Earth Science, Energy, and the Environment● Economics: 14.01 Principles of Microeconomics or 15.0111 Economic Analysis for Business Decisions● A Social Sciences of Energy Foundation Subject● An Energy Technology/Engineering in Context Subject ● An additional elective subject (one of the two required electives is covered by the REM Junior Capstone 1.020 or a UROP)
Consult the Energy Studies Minor list of subjects for specific options.
Example Projects
3.0061/22.03 Assistive Design
Students designed a modified cutting board to help the visually impaired safely use a knife to prepare food.
3.0061/22.03 Final Project
This project explores the gamification of reducing energy consumption with an app that incentivizes users to use less energy at home during peak demand hours.
3.0061/22.03 Final Project
This project explores redesigning refrigerators with multiple compartments as a way to reduce energy loss when opening the door.
Project Classes
These are a series of classes that are taken throughout the three-year program.
3.0061/22.03 Intro to Design
Provides hands-on experiences in creativity, project scoping, rapid prototyping, and fabrication skills you will need to quickly make your ideas come to life. The goal is to gain make and build confidence and to provide some familiarity with relevant prototyping tools. The class is comprised of small projects focused on building up skills towards the completion of a final project centered around renewable energy.
22.071 Electronics, Signals, and Measurement
In order for low/zero carbon grids to become a reality, students must know the physical characteristics of different sources of electrical energy and how they can work together. Covers analog electronics, passive components and power systems to understand how basic circuits, filters, and grid-scale power systems work. RLC passive components, resistance models, impedance, resonances, first/second order filter design. Integration of concepts into a simple circuit with user-centric functional requirements. Basics of power systems, transmission, frequency and impedance matching, grid infrastructure and instabilities. Models of power generation, focusing on clean energy systems. Labs include fundamentals of analog electronics, design activities, and physical microgrid simulation and analysis.
Leadership
Prof. Mike Short
Founding Thread Co-Lead
Nuclear Science & Engineering
Prof. Saurabh Amin
Thread Co-Lead
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Prof. Oral Buyukozturk
Founding Thread Co-Lead (on sabbatical)
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Prof. William Tisdale
Thread Faculty Team
Chemical Engineering
Nathan Melenbrink
Lead Instructor, NEET
School of Engineering
Scholars Leadership Team
Jess Cohen
Energy Transition Student Council
PhysicsClass of 2022
Arina Khotimsky
Energy Transition Student Council
Materials Science and EngineeringClass of 2023
Kelly Wu
Energy Transition Student Council
Chemical EngineeringClass of 2022
FAQ
Who is eligible for the Energy Transition Machines thread?
All majors are welcome to join.
Will I get a certificate?
Yes, upon completing your SB degree you will also gain a NEET Certificate in Energy Transition from the School of Engineering.
Do I need to take the project courses in sequence?
We have set out a recommended sequence for taking the project classes, but understand that schedule conflicts may not allow you to follow the classes in sequence. You have the flexibility to complete the classes in the years that work best for you.