Syllabus

• Week 1

  Technology, Climate Change and You

  • Welcome to the course. Let's begin!

    Please watch this short video. Dr Mandy Sadan will welcome you to the course.

  • What do you think about green technologies?

    We all have different attitudes towards green technologies. For example, although you might want to stop climate change, you might not want a large wind farm near your house! What do you think about this kind of situation?

  • What is an Energy Transition?

    We often hear the term Energy Transition and that it is important for tackling climate change. You will now read a short article about Energy Transitions, which will put this term in a historical perspective.

  • Technology and Energy Transition

    Many energy transitions in human history. Each transition has been accompanied by the development of new technologies. We now look in more detail at the connection between technology and the new energy transition.

  • What are Rare Earth Elements and why are they important?

    All energy transitions require, and create, new technologies. This is true of the current Energy Transition. We will now look at some of the materials that are needed to make them work.

  • What's the problem with Rare Earth Elements?

    You have thought about the need to use new technologies to support energy transition and tackle climate change. But what are the downsides of using minerals such as REEs? In this section, we will delve into this more deeply.

  • Preparing for next week

    What have you learned from this week's material? What are the most important things that you are taking away from the course so far?

  • Glossary

    Here you can find some key terms to help you with your learning. The glossary section will always be at the end of each week and be filled with the same content for ease of use.

• Week 2

  Rare Earth Elements, Geopolitics and China

  • Geopolitics and Rare Earth

    In this activity, you will become familiar with the concept of geopolitics and understand why it is an important perspective to learn REEs.

  • The dominance of China in REEs

    We all learned the importance of REEs in week 1. However, China's dominance in REEs production can have unpredictable impacts. In this activity, we will learn why this can be problematic.

  • REE Production in China: Benefits and Costs

    Do you know how REE is mined? In this activity, we will explore the positive and negative impacts of mining and producing REE.

  • China's Geopolitical Strategies

    What are China's geopolitical strategies in REE? In this activity, we will explore China's REE policies, political motivations, and 'game plans' for the future in more detail.

  • Preparing for next week

    What have you learned this week? In this activity, we will summarize learning from this week and prepare for the next week.

  • Glossary

    Here you can find some key terms to help you with your learning. The glossary section will always be at the end of each week and be filled with the same content for ease of use.

• Week 3

  Local Experiences of REEs Extraction: A Case Study from Northern Myanmar

  • Thinking about where REEs come from

    In this step, we will reflect on why REEs are being mined in the Myanmar borderlands. This is a place facing many years of conflict and where the possibilities for regulating mining and trade from resources are small.

  • How are REEs mined?

    Before you listen to the life experience of a miner in the next step, we want you to understand a little more about the process of mining REE using a technique called **in-situ leaching**.

  • A miner's story

    You will now listen to the true life story of a miner. The story is in 4 parts and is narrated by an actor from Kachin State. There are some focus questions to help you make notes and a poll at the end.

  • A problem too difficult to solve?

    In this step, you will reflect on how challenging it is to solve these problems. At the same time, we need to look for solutions somewhere! What do we do?

  • Preparing for next week

    Here you will reflect on Week 3 and consolidate what you have learned.

  • Glossary

    Here you can find some key terms to help you with your learning. The glossary section will always be at the end of each week and be filled with the same content for ease of use.

• Week 4

  Responsibilities and Solutions: Reflections on a Just Transition

  • What does Just Transition mean?

    In this step, we will learn more about the origins of the term Just Transition. What does it mean - and what does that mean for all of us if we take it seriously?

  • Perspectives

    In the following step, we will think about the perspectives and experiences of different people involved in the REE supply chain. You have learned about the life of a REE miner but let's now consider other people, too.

  • What has been done so far?

    In this step, we will consider some of the options that have already been used to deal with similar problems. We will think about their strengths and weaknesses as we seek a more Just Energy Transition.

  • Self-reflection and future: what can we do?

    In this section, we ask you to reflect on your personal responsibilities and how you might take actions to make a positive contribution. What have you learned that will encourage you to make a change?

  • Progress, further reading, and future

    This activity is the last part of the course. We list additional readings that you might be interested. We also welcome you to carry your interests further at the University of Warwick!

  • Glossary

    Here you can find some key terms to help you with your learning. The glossary section will always be at the end of each week and be filled with the same content for ease of use.

Who will you learn with?