Class Schedule
All readings and modules are preliminary and subject to change without notice before the semester starts on 8/26. Once the semester starts, the class will be advised of any changes using Canvas.
Course Introduction
In accordance with Rice University’s guidance, we will start the semester online using Zoom. Please see Canvas for the link!
- Aug 26
- Infrastructure, Sustainability, Resilience, and Equity (Zoom, synchronous)
- Aug 31
- Data Science with Python I (Zoom, synchronous)
- Sep 2
- Data Science with Python II (Zoom, synchronous)
Energy Systems
- Sep 7
- Climate Science and Climate Change
- Sep 9
- The Energy System: Uses, Sources, and Carbon Intensities
- Sep 14
- No Class – Tropical Storm Nicholas
- Sep 16
- Guest Lecture Dr. Gayle Moran – Engineering Communications
- Sep 21
- Generating Renewable Energy
- Sep 23
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- Storing and Transmitting Renewable Energy
- ⚡️ Project 1 assigned – how much storage do we need? (oral presentation)
- Datasets and Software Tools for Project 1
Water Security
- Sep 28
- Household Water Security
- Sep 30
- The Hydrologic Cycle
- Oct 5
- Guest Lecture Dr. Phil Bedient – Stormwater and Flooding
- Oct 7
- Mass Balance and Nutrient Cycles
- Oct 12
- Midterm Recess (no class)
- Oct 14
- Water Treatment Processes with Guest Lecture Dr. Jorge Loyo – NEWT Center and the Sustainability Minor
- Oct 19
- Work on Project 1 in class
- Oct 21
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- 🗓 Project 1 Presentations
- ⚡️ Project 2 assigned – rainwater harvesting in the semi-arid Brazil Nordeste
Transportation
- Oct 26
- Guest Lecture Veronica Davis – Design a Bike Lane
- Oct 28
- Field Trip to Houston Zoo
- Nov 2
- Mobility of the Future
- Nov 4
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- Connectivity
- ⚡️ Project 3 assigned – design a bike lane in Houston (digital presentation)
- 🗓 Project 2 Reports due
- Nov 9
- Datasets and Software Tools for Project 3
Coastal Resilience
- Nov 11
- Guest Lecture Dr. Jamie Padgett – Introduction to Statics and Mechanics
- Nov 16
- Guest Lecture Joe Dickinson – The P.E. license and process
- Nov 18
- Hurricanes and Sea Level Rise
- Nov 23
- 🗓 Project 3 Showcases (In-Class)
- Nov 25
- Thanksgiving, no class
- Nov 30
- Field Trip – Flood Risk Management on Bray’s Bayou
- ⚡️ Project 4 assigned – house elevation (written report and oral presentation)
- Dec 2
- Decision Making Under Uncertainty, Nature-Based Solutions, and Nonstructural Flood Risk Management
- TBD
- 🗓 Project 4 Presentations – will be scheduled during the final exam slot.