Fueling Up
This Praxis Lab examined the science, engineering, policy, and societal impacts of energy systems, with a focus on balancing economic growth, environmental sustainability, and social equity. Students explored a wide range of energy resources and technologies, including those specific to Utah, while analyzing the complex tradeoffs between production, consumption, efficiency, and environmental impact.
Through a data-driven approach, students assessed the life cycle variations of different energy options, land use requirements, and the interconnectedness of energy with ecosystems and socioeconomic systems. They also reflected on their own roles within global energy networks.
In the second semester, students applied their research to develop a project addressing real-world energy challenges, contributing innovative solutions to the ongoing conversation about sustainable energy systems.
Instructors:
Brenda Bowen
Brett Clark
More Praxis Labs
Infectious Disease on the Run
Margaret P. Battin, PhD
Wendy Hobson-Rohrer, MD
This Praxis Lab examined the history, science, and ethical implications of pandemics, from the Black Plague to COVID-19. Students analyzed how diseases spread, the social and political responses to outbreaks, and the ethical considerations of public health interventions.
How We Die
Margaret P. Battin, PhD
This Praxis Lab explored the evolving landscape of death and dying in the modern world, examining the shift from infectious disease mortality to prolonged battles with degenerative illnesses like cancer, heart failure, and dementia.
Education, Incarceration & Justice: Punishment and Opportunity in an Era of Mass Imprisonment
Erin Castro
Roberto Garcia
This Praxis Lab examined the deep connections between education, incarceration, and justice in the United States, a country with the highest incarceration rate in the world. Students explored the historical and systemic forces that have expanded the carceral state, disproportionately affecting low-income communities and communities of color.