Penn State MOOC strives for sustainability

By Katie Jacobs. Latest MOOC, led by Richard Alley, will focus on the science of alternative energy sources. Whether people admit it or not, the way the world uses energy is unsustainable: Energy demand keeps going up as fossil fuel reserves go down, and science is racing to find an answer. Penn State’s latest MOOC — Energy, the Environment and Our Future — is exploring some of the proposed solutions by delving into the science behind energy alternatives such as solar and wind power. Instructing the course, which began Jan. 6 and will run through March 3, is Richard Alley, a Penn State researcher and professor well known for his research on ice cores and what they can tell us about how climate has changed in the past. The MOOC will expand on material covered in a PBS series Alley hosted in 2011 called "Earth: The Operators’ Manual." Seth Blumsack, an associate professor of energy policy at Penn State, will also be contributing to instructing the course. More...