Energy Humanities (PEH311)

This course examines how humans have developed, harnessed, and relied upon various energy sources over time and the role that energy has had in culture.


Course description for study year 2025-2026. Please note that changes may occur.

See course description and exam/assesment information for this semester (2024-2025)
Facts

Course code

PEH311

Version

1

Credits (ECTS)

10

Semester tution start

Autumn

Number of semesters

1

Exam semester

Autumn

Language of instruction

English

Offered by
Time table

View course schedule

Note

Course does not start before autumn 2026

Content

The course will explore energy regimes, which are more than just the technological innovations and energy sources, but also include energy’s role in social structures, politics, infrastructures, economies, etc. Covering a variety of energy sources, including biopower, fossil fuels, and nuclear power, the course will also explore ‘energy transitions’ including their social and cultural changes. To stress communication skills with the public, students will work in groups on a semester project, a zine capturing an energy humanities theme.

Learning outcome

A candidate who has completed and passed the course

Knowledge

  • has advanced knowledge within the field of energy humanities
  • has thorough knowledge of the key theoretical concepts in energy humanities to explain historical energy use such as energy regimes, transitions, technological systems, technological styles, and cultures of energy

Skills

  • can analyze academic problems on the basis of knowledge of how energy and its use is historically situated in social, cultural, environmental, and political forms
  • can analyze and deal critically with various sources of information and use them to structure and formulate arguments about how energy choices have been made in the past
  • can analyze existing theories, methods and interpretations in the field of energy humanities
  • can work collaboratively in a group to select and research a topic for a project within the energy humanities
  • can apply historiographical perspectives in their own writing

General Competence

  • can apply historical knowledge and historical modes of thought to represent and understand contemporary society; for instance, brainstorm how the same issues are likely to appear in future energy development
  • can independently construct arguments based on scholarly foundations, using sources, theories, and methods in a precise and transparent manner
  • can actively participate orally in a seminar-based academic discussion
  • can communicate about academic issues, analyses and conclusions with the general public
  • can contribute to new thinking and innovation processes by creatively developing a public-facing output

Required prerequisite knowledge

None

Exam

Form of assessment Weight Duration Marks Aid
Semester project 1/1 Letter grades

Semester project with two components:
• Print-based zine developed in groups
• Accompanying written individual essay of 2000 words (+/-10%), not including references, footnotes, bibliography, table of contents, appendices, etc.

All aids except generative AI are allowed.

Coursework requirements

75 % attendance, 3 mandatory assignments

Course teacher(s)

Course teacher:

Eike-Christian Heine

Course coordinator:

Melina Antonia Buns

Course teacher:

Dolly Jørgensen

Method of work

This is a seminar-based course that requires active student participation. Students will work together and individually. The seminars will be complemented by some lectures. Part of the examination requires collaborative group work.

Literature

Search for literature in Leganto