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Education University of Groningen Summer Schools

Energy Challenge – an interdisciplinary approach

Hydrogen economy as socio-technical challenge
Connected dots with symbols of a ship, airplane, car and H2

With the huge impact of emissions that are warming our planet, we urgently need to change the way we generate energy from fossil fuels (oil, gas and coal) to clean, renewable energy. Although we know this, the energy transition is not going so fast. What are the challenges for energy transition? This summer school addresses the future of a hydrogen economy and the social-technical challenges involved. The course is meant for master students to do their first exploration of the complexity of challenges in energy transition, to get in contact with a real-time energy challenge and obtain skills in defining broad challenges into smaller research questions.

The course will start with students visiting an energy network operator and will be introduced to the challenge of shifting the supply from natural gas towards green gas and hydrogen. In the following three days, students will get an interdisciplinary introduction to this challenge by lecturers from different disciplines – technical and scientific, energy law, environmental psychology, economics and spatial science. On the final day of the course, the students work together in smaller groups and learn how to define the broad challenge into smaller research questions. Students may choose the discipline that they want to focus on. At the end of this day, the student groups present their research question to their peers.

Practical information
Dates

27 August – 1 September 2023

Location
Groningen, the Netherlands
Level

MA

Fee
(including lunches, coffee, bike rental (for 2 days) and closing reception)

€ 270

Please note that students from ENLIGHT universities are eligible for the same fee as UG students.


The Summer School has partial scholarships available for students from less privileged countries. If you would like to apply for a partial scholarship, please let us know in your motivation letter why you think you should qualify for the scholarship.

Academic coordinator

Maaike de Heij, Wubbo Ockels School

Contact

Energychallenges@rug.nl

Requirements

The course is for master students, with a relevant bachelor in science, economics or social science, who are interested in energy transition in general and a hydrogen economy in particular, and the challenges involved.

The course is meant for master students to do their first exploration of the complexity of challenges in energy transition, to get in contact with a real-time energy challenge and obtain skills in defining broad challenges into smaller research questions.

It is expected that the participants have a sufficient command of the English language to actively participate in the discussions and to present their own work in English.

Course schedule

Lectures with interactive discussion on topics such as

  • What is hydrogen and how to make the energy transition?
  • What is the public perspective on energy transition and specifically the use of hydrogen?
  • What is the economic perspective on hydrogen as a new energy source?
  • What are legal challenges related to hydrogen?

Excursion to:

  • Gasunie, an energy network operator, to learn about the challenge the company is facing of shifting the supply from natural gas towards green gas and hydrogen.

Social events

  • Welcome drinks and city tour
  • Closing reception/dinner
Learning outcomes

After this course you will be able to:

  • explain and discuss various dilemmas and policy options related to energy transition;
  • apply insights from different academic disciplines on a challenge related to energy transition;
  • reflect on the complex dilemmas in energy transition using the complementary insights from the various disciplines;
  • further define the challenge into a smaller research question

Workload

  • Preparation: 10 hours
  • Lectures: 32 hours
  • Presentation: 14 hours

Upon successful completion of the programme, the Summer School offers a Certificate of Attendance that mentions the workload of 56hours (28 hours corresponds to 1 ECTS). Students can apply for recognition of these credits to the relevant authorities in their home institutions, therefore the final decision on awarding credits is at the discretion of their home institutions. We will be happy to provide any necessary information that might be requested in addition to the certificate of attendance.

Application procedure

To apply, kindly fill out the online application form. Please note that you will be asked to upload the following documents:

  • Curriculum Vitae (max. 2 pages)
  • Motivation letter, clearly stating why you want to join this summer school, what you will bring to the school and what you hope to learn (max. 1 page)

The deadline for application is 15 May 2023. Selected applicants will be informed by 17 May 2023.

Last modified:01 March 2023 11.57 a.m.