TEAM PROJECTS

THE TEAM CONCEPT

Research teams consisting of four or five students will be organized in Week 2 of the course on the basis of information developed during the Week 1 meeting. The aim is have teams that are diverse as to majors, career goals, and learning styles. Teams will be self-organizing around assigned tasks, including early assignments and the term research projects. Students will meet face-to-face and/or digitally (using the course bulleting board) to decide on tasks, individual work assignments, exchange information, report progress and problems. In addition, students will evaluate each others' performances within the teams and in class presentations. Teams will present their final reports during 13 and 14, with written reports due in the instructors office on Thursday of the first final exam week (hard copy and digital copy). Final reports will be in a form appropriate to posting on the course website.

TENTATIVE PROJECTS

The effect of the internet on the environment. David Malchman, AT&T Corp.

Design, economic, regulatory and sociopolitical parameters of a waste wood-fired combined cycle steam plant and condensing turbine to produce electricity and heat for hydroponic farming. Sponsor: Don Liebowitz, Trigen Corp. www.trigen.com

Modeling the flow of energy in United States and/or the State of New Jersey currently and historically using the energy language of H.T. Odum in order to identify opportunities for control and redirection towards more sustainable modalities. Aggregate data exists from the 1970s and may be useful for comparison and change assessment. Sponsor: G. Morren www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/aer

Establishing an advanced technology vehicle incubator on a former military base in N.J.; technical, environmental, governmental, and socioeconomic aspects. Sponsor: Robb Young, Office of Sustainable Business, NJ Department of Commerce

The New Jersey Higher Education Partnership for Sustainability has produced an instrument, called the Campus Sustainability Selected Indicators Snapshot and Guide," for use at the institutional or campus level. One or more student teams will select one or a group of closely related indicators for investigation. Examples (or possibilities include):

(a) An assessment of indoor air pollution of campus buildings including determinants such as cleaning materials, building materials, furnishings, ventilation (air exchange), filters, etc. and remedies. Sponsor: tbt [Env. Sci Prof. for instrumentation]

(b) Comparative energy efficiency of university-owned motor vehicles and procurement policies. Sponsor: tbt

(c) Substitutive value of converting campus building roofs to photovoltaic arrays. Sponsor: tbt [try E-Photovoltaics, Lawrenceville] www.ramapo.edu/content/units/tas/njheps/

An assessment of sustainable campus construction and/or design a 'green' building for RU. Sponsor: Cassandra Kling, Office of Sustainable Business, NJ Department of Commerce

Collection and review of 'green' business initiatives nationally and their use to encourage businesses in New Jersey to adopt similar sustainable practices. Sponsor: Cassandra Kling, Office of Sustainable Business, NJ Department of Commerce

Institutionalizing life cycle costing into the Rutgers university procurement and contracting system; designing indicators and tracking mechanisms for the procurement of office equipment' (e.g., computers, photo copiers). Sponsor: Kevin Lyons, University Procurement and Contracting)