ISEN Courses - Graduate
ISEN has developed a series of graduate courses on the topics of sustainability and energy, with an expected audience spanning the whole university, from physical sciences and engineering to social science, business, communication, and law.
ISEN 405 Corporate Sustainability and Value Creation
Course Overview: This class will explore the emerging market for leveraging sustainability to drive value (reduced risk / increased innovation) in the corporate environment and will provide students with a primer on leading standards and sustainability reporting.
Instructor: Klaus Weber
Offered: Winter 2020, 10:30 AM-12:00 PM, Tech L440
ISEN 410 Topics in Contemporary Energy and Climate Change
Course Overview: The increasing worldwide demand for energy presents a number of complex interdisciplinary challenges, from resource depletion to climate change. This class will challenge students to answer the question, How shall we power the world in the 21st century? We will examine the history and geography of energy use; links between energy and climate change; and technological, economic and environmental benefits and drawbacks of various energy sources. Cross-listed as EARTH 342. Open to graduate students from all disciplines, senior undergraduates majoring in natural sciences or engineering, and other interested undergraduates by instructor consent.
Instructor: Yarrow Axford
Offered: Fall 2019; TuTh 11:00 AM-12:20 PM, Tech F285
ISEN 430 NUvention: Energy
Course Overview: Over an intense quarter, graduate students from schools across campus come together in interdisciplinary teams to develop a product or service and a business in the burgeoning sustainable energy industry. By simulating the product/service and business development process, NUvention Energy helps students develop creative, interpersonal, business, and technical skills. Teams are mentored by an ISEN board of energy industry professionals and cleantech entrepreneurs. Course teams have been extremely competitive on the business plan competition circuit, and many have gone on to form successful companies, including SiNode, Metergenius, Ampy, INJoo, and Hazel Technologies. NUvention: Energy is collaboratively offered by ISEN and the Farley Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation; Farley runs the NUvention program portfolio (which includes other offerings in medical, nano, web, social impact, etc). Cross-listed as ENTREP 474.
Instructor: Mark Werwath
Offered: Winter 2020, Tu 6:00-9:00 PM
ISEN 440 Private Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure Development and Finance
Course Overview: Design, permitting, financing, and implementation process of large-scale energy infrastructure developments, including natural gas plants, solar and wind farms, hydro, and electric storage.
Instructors: Tom O'Flynn and Paul Astolfi
Offered: Spring 2020, Tu 3:00-6:00 PM
ISEN 470 Sustainability in Water and Wastewater (0.5 credits)
Course Overview: Provides an introduction to the economics, technology and regulation that drive water and wastewater markets. Survey of the major issues that exist and a discussion of opportunities to drive to more sustainable water systems.
Instructor: Patrick Boyle
Offered: Spring 2020, Th 6:00-9:00 PM, second 5 weeks of the quarter (May 7-June 4)
ISEN 471 Sustainable Food (0.5 credits)
Course Overview: Main sustainability topics related to the production, transportation, processing and consumption of food. Focus on tangible methods to promote sustainability in the food industry such as regenerative agriculture techniques, reducing GHG emissions throughout the supply chain and reduced food waste.
Instructor: Anthony Kingsley
Offered: Spring 2020, M 6:00-9:00 PM, first 5 weeks of the quarter (March 30-April 27)
ISEN 472 Climate Activism and Its Business Impacts (0.5 credits)
Course Overview: Offers an overview of climate activism and its business impacts over time. Analyzes the way in which consumer behavior and corporate policy are affected by activism.
Instructor: Sarene Marshall
Offered: Spring 2020, M 12:00-3:00 PM, second 5 weeks of the quarter (May 7-June 4)
ISEN 495 Special Topics in Energy and Sustainability: Industrial Energy Management and Utilization (Cross-listed as MECH_ENG 467)
Course Overview: As time permits, in this course the students will learn about historical energy usage; energy conservation vs. energy management; elements of an energy audit; data normalization of energy consumption using product-mix data or degree days etc.; utility rate structures and deregulation; energy economics; energy conservation opportunities in thermal-fluid Systems; combustion systems; steam and condensate Systems; energy recovery systems; industrial insulation; and electrical energy conservation.
Instructor: Manohar Kulkarni
Offered: Winter 2020, MWF 10:00-11:00 AM
ISEN 498 Energy and Sustainability Project Practicum
Course Overview: 10-week, team-based consulting project for a corporate, non-profit or government partner of Northwestern University. Student teams will be advised by the instructor but will work directly with the client organization. There will be limited traditional reading / lecture content and the topics covered will include project management and team collaboration.
Instructor: Holly Benz
Offered: Spring 2020, TuTh 11:00 AM-12:30 PM