Assessment of Undergraduate Perceptions of Renewable Energy Technologies and Careers

Abstract

EBERSOHL, JR, RICHARD DALE. Assessment of Undergraduate Perceptions of Renewable Energy Technologies and Careers. (Under the direction of Dr. Elizabeth Guthrie Nichols.)

The development and implementation of renewable energy technology is becoming increasingly important as the world’s energy usage continues to rise. The shift in focus from fossil fuels to sustainable energy sources requires the addition of educational opportunities designed to support the growing need for renewable energy professionals. The purpose of this project is to identify and evaluate current North Carolina State University undergraduates’ knowledge and perceptions of renewable energy technologies, the value of an education in renewable energy technologies, and career opportunities in this emerging sector. An assessment was designed for a General Education Program course on Environmental Science that predominantly enrolls freshmen. The overall results suggest that students in this class have a basic understanding of renewable energy technologies but various misconceptions about the role these technologies currently play on a global scale. These results support an initiative to provide both science and non-science majors additional undergraduate curriculum for renewable energy assessment for non-engineers at North Carolina State University.