1. Deep discussions during the course: we invite key experts from industry, academic and research institutions to share with students their knowledge about green energy-related trending topics, such as offshore wind power, Google and Apple's green power demand for Taiwan's supply chain, the relations between nuclear power and green growth, climate change catastrophe and adaptation issues. After the lecture is over, a deep discussion takes place in order to provide our students a better understanding of above-mentioned problems.
2. Training in fact-checking of news and YouTube videos about sustainable energy: I select the recent hot news and video clips about green energy and, in particular, the offshore wind power issues. Students have chance to approach those issues basing on their distinct academic background. Afterwards, I will provide the analysis. Moreover, it is expected that this way students may improve their critical thinking.
3. Case study on how to interpret the results opinion polls and surveys regarding energry: opinion polls are widely applied in green energy sector. However, precise and free from bias interpretations of the opinion poll are of a great importance. The course's content bases on the opinion polls from the prestigious Taiwan Institute for Sustainable Energy and also consists of several topics which will serve students as interpretation exercises (e.g., what is the proper electricity mix of 2025 according to this opinion poll? What are people's preferences in terms of green energy development?). Apart from that, we hope to teach the students how to interpret objectively.
4. Term paper: the students have a choice of how to deliver the final term paper, for example conducting the fact-check of the recent news about Taiwan Renewable Energy Certificate, developing a board game for the purpose of evaluation of the Taiwan’s 2025 renewable energy development target.
Prof. Gao's personal site