Course # 39925 Section Number 1 Day(s) Tu- Th Time(s) 11:00am-12:20pm Term Fall 2025 Specialization Energy & Environmental Policy Course Instructor Kim Wolske Syllabus Syllabus 9/5/24 The success of many environmental and energy-related policies depends on the support and cooperation of the public. This course, drawing from multiple fields of behavioral science, will examine the psychological and social aspects of different energy-related behaviors, ranging from household energy conservation to public support and opposition for emergent energy technologies (e.g., wind farms, fracking, etc.). Through a mix of lecture and discussion, we will explore questions such as: what are potential motivations and barriers – beyond financial considerations – to the uptake of energy efficient and renewable energy technologies? How can policies be designed to enhance adoption? Why is climate change such a divisive issue and what are the psychological barriers that prevent concerned people from acting? Why do people support clean energy broadly but object to developments when proposed in their own communities? By taking a behavioral approach, the course aims to equip students with an enhanced framework for evaluating energy and environmental policies that goes beyond traditional economic and regulatory perspectives. There are no prerequisites. Notes Registered students who do not attend during week 1 of class will forfeit their seat and be withdrawn. Recent News More news New Series to Examine Shifting Powers in U.S. Government Tue., July 29, 2025 Mapping the Mortality Gap: New Evidence from Robert Kaestner on Racial Disparities in Death Rates Mon., July 28, 2025 The Lightbulb Moment That Lit a Career in Public Finance: The 2025 CC DuBois Alumni Service Award Winner Tells Her Story Mon., July 28, 2025 Upcoming Events More events Civic Leadership Academy 2026 Virtual Information Session Wed., July 30, 2025 | 12:00 PM UChicago Summer Send-Off in Tokyo Thu., July 31, 2025 | 7:30 PM DevilCraft-Hamamatsucho, Risewell Building, 1F, Minato-ku Tokyo 105-0013 Japan Harris Summer Campus Visit Mon., August 04, 2025 | 10:00 AM Harris School of Public Policy 1307 E 60th St Chicago, IL 60637 United States
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