| Title | The PCGER Initiative: Bringing UBC to the forefront of global geothermal education and research |
|---|---|
| Faculty/College/Unit | Graduate Studies |
| Status | Completed |
| Duration | 3 Years |
| Initiation | 04/01/2010 |
| Completion | 05/01/2014 |
| Funding Details | |
| Year 1: Project Title | The Geothermal Education Institute Initiative: Bringing UBC to the forefront of global geothermal education and training |
| Year 1: Project Year | Year 1 |
| Year 1: Funding Year | 2010/2011 |
| Year 1: Project Type | Small TLEF |
| Year 1: Principal Investigator | Lena Patsa |
| Year 1: Funded Amount | 92,000 |
| Year 1: Team Members | Lena Patsa, PhD Candidate, Mining Engineering, Faculty of Graduate Studies |
| Year 1: Summary | Propelled by the existence of considerable geothermal potential in British Columbia and the lack of relevant educational resources, our team is seeking TLEF funding to help hire nine UBC students to aid with the necessary steps required in the foundation of the UBC Geothermal Education Institute, a platform from which we can bring UBC to the forefront of global geothermal energy education and facilitate the use of local geothermal resources. The students will work towards creating a series of courses covering fundamental aspects of geothermal energy utilization and commercialization, recruiting geothermal experts in giving a series of lectures and workshops on the subject of geothermal energy and setting up and running a Geothermal Information Center on campus. This project is expected to address the issues affecting existing geothermal developments in British Columbia, meet the needs and requirements of current geothermal professionals seeking further accreditation and help to attract high-caliber students from around the world in search of geothermal training. |
| Year 2: Project Year | Year 2 |
| Year 2: Funding Year | 2011/2012 |
| Year 2: Project Type | Small TLEF |
| Year 2: Principal Investigator | Lena Patsa |
| Year 2: Funded Amount | 84,000 |
| Year 2: Team Members | Lena Patsa, PhD Candidate, Mining Engineering, Faculty of Graduate Studies |
| Year 2: Summary | The Geothermal Working Group is a team of UBC students brought together by their mutual passion for geothermal energy. This past year, we have established the Pacific Centre for Geothermal Education & Research in collaboration with UBC professors and with the generous support of TLEF. Our primary objective is to initiate geothermal education at UBC and facilitate our Province’s vast geothermal resources, while creating novel learning opportunities for the entire UBC student body. Three courses are planned to be in place for 2011-2012, complementing two created this past year — together they fulfill the core requirements of a Graduate Diploma in Geothermal Energy. Eleven students will be hired to work on the creation of the new courses, expand our collection of educational material, organize a geothermal competition, hold a geothermal symposium on campus, establish key collaborations with geothermal experts on a global scale, and promote UBC nationally and internationally by participating in geothermal conferences. |
| Year 3: Project Year | Year 3 |
| Year 3: Funding Year | 2012/2013 |
| Year 3: Project Type | Small TLEF |
| Year 3: Principal Investigator | Lena Patsa |
| Year 3: Funded Amount | 50,000 |
| Year 3: Team Members | Lena Patsa, PhD Candidate, Mining Engineering, Faculty of Graduate Studies |
| Year 3: Summary | The Pacific Centre for Geothermal Education and Research is home to an interdisciplinary group of UBC students and professors sharing a mutual passion for geothermal energy. These past two years, we have successfully spearheaded the first courses exclusively dedicated to geothermal energy in Canada with the generous support of TLEF. Our current focus is to complete our long-term objectives, achieve a sustainable presence in the UBC community and leave a lasting legacy for future students. We will create novel learning opportunities with the development of two new courses that will combine with existing ones to fulfill the core requirements of a Graduate Diploma in Geothermal Energy. Nine students will be hired to work on course creation, assume managerial responsibilities, recruit, train and manage volunteers, continue our promotional and outreach efforts on a global scale, organize a series of on-campus outreach events, hold a geothermal competition and manage PCGER's online presence. |