What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to develop and implement a tertiary course focused on carbon-neutral fuels and environmental sustainability.

March 28, 2026

The Development, Implementation and Quality Assurance of a Tertiary Course on Carbon-Neutral Fuels, Energy and Environmental Sustainability

Key Points

The aim is to develop and implement a tertiary course focused on carbon-neutral fuels and environmental sustainability.
Course developed as an optional component of a tertiary science program.
Modules emphasize renewable energy and environmental impacts.
Assessment focuses on understanding course content and personal interpretations of global warming.
Course successfully delivered over 12 years with a changing focus from chemistry to broader sustainability topics.
Students provided positive evaluations regarding course content and multidisciplinary approach.
Course unique in combining scientific and social perspectives on environmental issues.
Students improved understanding of complexities related to global warming and sustainability.

Abstract

A course titled ‘Fuels, Energy and Environmental Sustainability’ (FEES) has been developed as an optional component of a tertiary science program. This course is based on the premise that energy derived from the combustion of fossil fuels is unsustainable since the production process releases greenhouse gases. These gases are believed to be the principal cause of global warming. Some attractive features of the course are that it is multi-disciplinary in character, requires only basic chemistry knowledge as a pre-requisite and itdemonstrates how science/technology and communities working in harmony can assist clean energy production/consumption plus move towards environmental sustainability. This course has been delivered successfully at La Trobe University (Melbourne, Australia) over the last 12 years to students studying chemistry as a major. Initially, it had a strong chemistry emphasis, but over the last 5 years, this has changed to a broader emphasis on the development of renewable, clean, green energy resources so as to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and to accelerate the transition to environmental sustainability. This change of focus and reduction of chemistry emphasis has meant that this course is now considered somewhat unique in that it has combined scientific principles related to energy production with social and economic outcomes and impacts on environmental sustainability. Course modules, teaching methodology and assessment strategies are outlined. Assessment is based not only on an understanding of the course content but also on the ability of students to reveal their own interpretations of the reality, consequences and control of global warming. Student evaluations of this course have indicated an overall positive impact in terms of its topical content, its multi-disciplinary approach adopted in presenting balanced appraisals of global warming and the opportunities provided to understand the complexities of environmental sustainability.

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