Hello everyone! I just recently committed to Case after a long decision process. I was admitted to the engineering school, but I haven’t seen much relating to environmental engineering and renewable energy in the curriculum. I am specifically very interested in pursuing alternative/ renewable energy. Does Case Western have any opportunities in these fields for majoring or research or internships? What would be a good major for someone who wants to pursue renewable energy? Chemical engineering? Mechanical engineering? Something else? Thanks!
My daughter is interested in the same. You can do chem (she does not want CE). We spoke to both ME and EE prof. They both said the same thing. Can major in either Electrical or Mechanical and take electives in the opposite discipline. Also, first year curriculum same for both so can decide later.
The above link shows Env. Eng in Civil Engineering so that is another option.
Check this out.
url=http://blog.case.edu/think/2015/04/06/researcherscreatefirstmetalfreecatalystforrechargeablezincairbatteries? Researchers create first metal-free catalyst for rechargeable zinc-air batteries
The Great Lakes Energy Institute is an interdisciplinary group focused on sustainable energy.
http://energy.case.edu/
This is a link to the professor’s website who holds the Milton and Tamar Maltz Professor in Energy Innovation professorship. He is an expert too: http://cesc.case.edu/
I actually do not want to do environmental engineering because I feel like it focuses on pollution/ water treatment. I really want to focus on energy, specifically alternative/ renewable forms of energy. I’m just trying to figure out the best major for me since it is not a major by itself at Case.
Many major work on it. Did you look at my links? I didn’t mention anything about pollution or water.
There are electrical, mechanical, materials, among others. It depends on what area interests you. Do you want to design wind-turbine blades? ME, AE, and Materials. Do you want to design the turbine controller? EE (and its subset EE). Do you want to work on potential ways of storing the energy after it is created? Currently, it is consumed as it is produced. Chemical, Materials, EE and others work on that. Do you want to work on delivering the power from the the turbine to the grid? Do you want to work on the grid improvements?
All these things, require interdisciplinary groups. Green energy (or any industry) is so broad, it requires many different backgrounds. It comes down to what you’re good at, and what you are interested in.
Engineering is an exacting career. At Case, and any good engineering school, the professors will expect you to study, learn, and find out things through your own research.
Sorry, I was referring to bopper’s link. Your link was helpful! I am interested in how energy is produced and also its applications. Solar energy is something I am particularly interested in, especially with its applications.
Case Western offers a Solar Durability and Lifetime Extension lab: http://csegroups.case.edu/sdle/home Look at Professor Roger French’s group . Professor French set up the solar farm at Case Western! He does solar cell durability studies. I sat in on a group meeting with this professor, he hires computer scientists, engineers and chemists to work for him. its a very good opportunity in the solar energy area.
For renewable energy, electrical engineering combined with materials science is a powerful combination. Physics and mechanical engineering are also helpful. Its a very interdisciplinary field. Professor French, who set up the solar energy farm at Case Western, is jointly appointed in materials science and physics. This website explains more about his work in India, Europe and the USA. He measures how durable solar cells are over time, very important work to help the solar industry. Case Western has strong ties to First Solar in Ohio. http://engineering.case.edu/centers/sdle/
You picked a great university to study renewable energy! Visit the solar farm, over on the west side of campus near the new performing arts center. Its a demonstration area where solar cells are tested at Case. There is also a professor in materials science, David Mattiesen, working on wind energy: Ohio Wind Energy Research is based at Case Western: http://energy.case.edu/WERC-Center
If I were more interested in how to make solar energy conversion more efficient, would material science be the way to go?
Reach out to a professor or two. They are very friendly. Have you visited Case? Set up an appointment. There are friendly faculty members who can better help you.
I have visited.