A group of 18 University of Michigan students traveled to Chile in April as part of "Sustainable Energy Development in South America," a class co-taught by Sara Adlerstein, a research scientist and lecturer at the School of Natural Resources and the Environment.

The course was co-taught with Steven Wright, the Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering in the College of Engineering, and supported by the Graham Environmental Sustainability Institute.

The students’ journey and coursework is outlined in an article in the current issue of Michigan Today.

As part of the curriculum, students studied proposals to build large new dams in Patagonia. While the dams could generate hydropower for Chile, the social and environmental costs will be high. Students are trying to “understand the issues” and determine whether "there may be better ways of generating the energy needs of the country," Wright said.

Adlerstein and Wright developed the course in 2008. "Our goal," said Adlerstein, who was born and educated in Chile, "was for students to understand that issues relating to the environment and the conflict with the economy and social aspects are complex, and that it's very hard to come to any conclusions if you look at things from only one perspective."

View the full story at Michigan Today