UMD-Spring Break: Ghana: Climate Solutions in the Global South: Sustainability, Energy, and Green Technology (CHEM)
About the Program
This course from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry will explore an interdisciplinary approach towards understanding the highly topical areas of energy, sustainability, climate change, and environmental stewardship. We will specifically explore societal relationships with energy and sustainability in Ghana, known for continuing efforts in advancing economic growth and human development in Africa.
The chemistry of processes that are at the heart of extraction and utilization of organic and inorganic compounds from the Earth is therefore important towards understanding both energy and sustainability. The course will cover the basic concepts of energy and sustainability, the chemistry of fossil fuels, efficient ways of energy storage as well as energy policy implementation based on a country’s need and natural resources.
The course will also introduce you to the current state of Ghana’s economy. You will research topics in using natural resources in Ghana (fossil fuels, minerals of industrial importance, including rare metals), and will learn about Ghana's government effort in industrializing the country.
