Associated Term:
Fall 2018
Learning Outcomes:
1. Great Issues – This course is designed for all science and engineering majors, plus upper-level business, political science and other students to enlighten and enable self-discovery of this major past, present and future issue in human civilization. For these diverse audiences, the necessary geological and environmental concepts will be explained – basics of geologic time, plate motions and collisions, sea-level change, ocean fertility, hydrocarbon maturation and migration, role of super-greenhouse conditions, and other factors are essential to understand the selected major oil-gas basins.
2. Technical writing (communication skills) – A peer-reviewed literature-research paper (ca. 10-15 single-spaced pages) constitutes 30% of the grade. The peer-review/submission procedure was developed with Dr. Fosmire. In addition to the pre-requisite of a technical writing course; we provide additional exercises and guidance for proper searching for peer-reviewed publications, acceptable citation methods for science papers, bibliographic style, etc.
3. Ethics – We examine case examples of past unethical corporate or private behaviors and how these were eventually resolved or remain a concern (e.g., monopoly building and later bread-up of Standard Oil; Ecuador pollution cases;; CIA involvement with Iranian government overthrow in 1950s to restore oil company monopoly; corruption in African and other “oil-cursed” nations; atmospheric pollution of cities; major oil spills; etc.). Politics of “peak oil” are especially examined. We encourage the students to directly discuss situations with guest speakers from petroleum companies; who often welcome the chance to present the story from their side. We include guests from Middle East and other affected petro-exporting nations.
4. Multi-disciplinary (Breadth of knowledge in related fields) – This course has equal amounts of geology, history, and international politics as we examine a set of oil-basins (e.g., Saudi Arabia, Libya, Iraq, Indonesia, Angola, Mexico, Russia/Soviet Union, etc.). In general, each lecture concentrates on the unique geologic/tectonic situation of particular oil-rich region, the story and controversies of the rise of oil in that nation/region, and current social-political pressures and foreign policy implications. For the environmental and alternative-vehicle presentations, the appropriate chemical, engineering and ecological principles are included (e.g., exactly how a hydrogen-fuel car would function, including engineering costs; or exactly how ozone is produced in car-dominated cities in the summer). This multidisciplinary course also includes aspect of social change, role of oil-gas in national politics, climate effects, and the petrochemical industry products.
5. Depth in Major – For EAS students, understanding petroleum basins and the importance of hydrocarbons in history/society/climate is essential; but is usually not covered in their core curriculum. This OIL! Course is unique in placing the geological aspects into the broader context of social, international and environmental concerns.
6. Exposure to professional and career activities – This is a specific desired outcome for EAS courses. Therefore, we have guests from major petroleum (Exxon, Chevron, Shell, etc.) and gas (Chesapeake) companies that highlight forefronts of exploration, and career options for geosciences and other fields. Some Purdue alumni in petro-chemicals and other related fields have also given presentations. However, to balance these guests from the hydrocarbon industry, we include guest speakers from Purdue Energy Center (non-oil alternative fuels), oil-producing nations (on social and environmental problems caused by the extraction industry), and environmental science.
7. Breadth of knowledge in related fields – This multi-disciplinary course includes extensive sections on history, social change, international and national politics, environment and climate effects, and the geology-paleontology-chemistry topics associated with the wide range of petroleum-related topics.
Required Materials:
Technical Requirements:
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