ENSb1319 Energy and civilisation

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
0/0/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
RNDr. Petra Grešlová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Karel Stibral, Ph.D.
Department of Environmental Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Kateřina Hendrychová
Supplier department: Department of Environmental Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Wed 19. 2. 12:00–15:40 U33, Wed 5. 3. 12:00–15:40 U33, Wed 19. 3. 12:00–15:40 U33, Wed 2. 4. 12:00–15:40 U33, Wed 16. 4. 12:00–15:40 U33, Wed 30. 4. 12:00–15:40 U33, Wed 14. 5. 12:00–15:40 U33
Prerequisites (in Czech)
TYP_STUDIA(B)
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
Students will understand the link of energy use by society (civilizations) and the environment and will be able to explain it. They will be aware of the development of energy production and consumption, the current state and future technological possibilities of the energy sector. They will be acquainted with methods of analysis of energy flows through the socio-economic system in a broader concept of social (socio-economic) metabolism. We will also discuss various statistical sources and the geographical context of energy production and consumption, as well as the EU legislative frameworks on this topic.
Learning outcomes (in Czech)
Kromě znalostí této široké problematiky budou studenti také schopni pracovat s databázemi vědeckých prací.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction: what is energy, history of energetics, types of energy, units. Resources of scientific literature.
  • 2. Energetics of the planet, atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere. Photosynthesis, primary production of the biosphere.
  • 3. Sources of different types of energy, geographical distribution, environmental context of energy production and consumption. Fossil energy sources and the transition to a low-carbon economy.
  • 4. Energy metabolism of society, socioeconomic and socioecological system, energy flows.
  • 5. Energy profile of Czechia and its development over time. Alternative energy sources, outlook for the future.
  • 6. Energy and its role in society, production, consumption, indicators and statistical sources.
Literature
    required literature
  • CENIA, Zpráva o stavu životního prostředí České republiky, 2023, Kap. 2.1. Přechod ke klimatické neutralitě
  • Petr Daniš, Klima je příležitost, kap. 2. Vyrábíme čistou energii, kap. 3 Elektrifikujeme dopravu.
  • Václav Smil, Energie, průvodce pro začátečníky.
  • Jan Daniel, Jindřich Frajer, Pavel Klapka a kolektiv, Environmentální historie České republiky, kap. 8 Historická těžba a krajina
    recommended literature
  • Václav Smil, Energy in Nature and Society, General Energetics of Complex Systems.
  • World Energy Outlook 2024, IEA, kap. Executive summary
  • World Energy Outlook 2023, IEA
  • DANIŠ, Petr. Klima je příležitost : opravdová řešení pro naši budoucnost na Zemi. 1. vydání. [Praha]: Tereza, vzdělávácí centrum, z.ú., 2023, 238 stran. ISBN 9788087905395. info
Teaching methods
Lecture, discussion, compulsory reading
Assessment methods
Part of the course is reading and active participation in class discussions. To successfully complete the course, students will complete two tasks: 1. search for one scientific article in one of the databases of scientific papers and present it to others in the discussion class and 2. create and give an oral presentation of a ppt presentation on a selected topic in a time length of 5-10 minutes (there will be several topics to choose from, but students can choose any topic related to the course content).
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2025/ENSb1319