This enlightening video offers potential solutions for a near complete transfer to renewable geothermal energy using the existing fossil fuel infrastructure and workforce.
The merging of current technologies with new innovations, coupled with the use of industry workers, is at the heart of these solutions presented.
Teaching Tips
Positives
This resource is very focused on attainable solutions. It can be used as a source of pragmatic relief for students who may feel overwhelmed by climate change.
With the incorporation of the oil and gas experts and drillers, this video emphasizes how climate solutions need not be embroiled in economic versus environmental positions. There are ideas that work for everyone involved.
Speaker Jamie Beard mentions her growth as she moved through her journey. It may be helpful for some students to realize that the starting point is often not the ending point when embarking on noble work; flexibility and introspection are essential!
Additional Prerequisites
The visuals in this video provide plenty of context for the subject matter, but a basic understanding of mining and drilling for fossil fuels would be beneficial.
Differentiation
Invite students to consider how strongly they feel that climate solutions threaten the jobs/livelihoods of people working in the fossil fuel industry. Discuss their thoughts before viewing the video.
Challenge students to develop a design that offers a solution to a climate problem while using a segment of existing infrastructure to achieve that solution.
History has demonstrated instances of the very industries that are harming the natural environment turning around and focusing their resources on solutions. Allow students to dig deeper into the circumstances that surrounded stratospheric ozone depletion of the 1970's and 80's along with the steps both governments and the polluting industries took to address the problem.
Scientist Notes
This 15-minute TED talk explores the potential for geothermal energy at the global scale. The current state of geothermal technology and innovation is presented, and the potential for future growth is explored. Additionally, the potential for shifting the knowledge base of the gas and oil industry towards geothermal development is presented. This is a compelling resource that is recommended for teaching.
Standards
Science and Engineering
ETS1: Engineering Design
HS-ETS1-2 Design a solution to a complex real-world problem by breaking it down into smaller, more manageable problems that can be solved through engineering.
HS-ETS1-3 Evaluate a solution to a complex real-world problem based on prioritized criteria and trade-offs that account for a range of constraints, including cost, safety, reliability, and aesthetics, as well as possible social, cultural, and environmental impacts.
