The PCGER Initiative: Bringing UBC to the forefront of global geothermal education and research

TitleThe PCGER Initiative: Bringing UBC to the forefront of global geothermal education and research
Faculty/College/UnitGraduate Studies
StatusCompleted
Duration3 Years
Initiation04/01/2010
Completion05/01/2014
Funding Details
Year 1: Project TitleThe Geothermal Education Institute Initiative: Bringing UBC to the forefront of global geothermal education and training
Year 1: Project YearYear 1
Year 1: Funding Year2010/2011
Year 1: Project TypeSmall TLEF
Year 1: Principal InvestigatorLena Patsa
Year 1: Funded Amount92,000
Year 1: Team Members

Lena Patsa, PhD Candidate, Mining Engineering, Faculty of Graduate Studies
Arvind Saraswat, Student IRES / Member, Sustainable Academic Strategy Committee
Bruce Dunwoody, Associate Dean, Faculty of Applied Science
Bern Klein, Head, Mining Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science
John Meech, Professor, Mining Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science
Marek Pawlik, Graduate Advisor, Mining Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science
Aaron Gunson, Instructor, Mining Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science
Jeff Giffin, Special Projects Manager, UBC Utilities / Student, Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability
Deb Feduik, Manager, Master of Engineering
Sheila Ballantyne, Student / VP Admin, Graduate Student Society / External Rep, Sustainability Working Group
Charlene Haupt, Member, Mining Engineering Safety Committee
Andreas Sotirakopoulos, Student, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Christos Stamboulidis, Student, Chemical and Biological Engineering
Farid Khan, Student, Mechanical Engineering
Nastaran Arianpoo, Student, Mining Engineering

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 YearYear 2
Year 2: Funding Year2011/2012
Year 2: Project TypeSmall TLEF
Year 2: Principal InvestigatorLena Patsa
Year 2: Funded Amount84,000
Year 2: Team Members

Lena Patsa, PhD Candidate, Mining Engineering, Faculty of Graduate Studies
Bern Klein, Head, Mining Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science
Bruce Dunwoody, Associate Dean, Engineering Programs, Faculty of Applied Science
John Meech, CERC
Juliet Newson, Chair, Education Committee, International Geotermal Association
Deb Fedulk, Manager, Master of Engineering, CERC
Bret Gilley, CWSEI Teaching and Learning Fellow, Geoscience Education, Earth and Ocean Sciences (EOS)
Eugene Barsky, Librarian, Engineering, UBC Library
Jeff Giffins, Special Project Manager, Utilities / Student, Engineering in Clean Energy
Sarah Kimball, Member, Geothermal Working Group / Student, Mining Engineering
Nastaran Arianpoo, Member, Geothermal Working Group / Student, Mining Engineering
Gudni Karl Rosenkjaer, Member, Geothermal Working Group / Student, Physics
Jodi Cross, member, Geothermal Working Group / Student, EOS
Jaishankar lyer, VP Finance, Graduate Student Society
Mrigank Sharma, Student, Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE)
Andreas Sotirakopoulos, Student, ECE
Nader Noroozi, Student, Mechanical Engineering
Bahador Moosavi, Student, Engineering Physics

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 YearYear 3
Year 3: Funding Year2012/2013
Year 3: Project TypeSmall TLEF
Year 3: Principal InvestigatorLena Patsa
Year 3: Funded Amount50,000
Year 3: Team Members

Lena Patsa, PhD Candidate, Mining Engineering, Faculty of Graduate Studies
Bern Klein, Head, Mining Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science
Bruce Dunwoody, Associate Dean, Engineering Programs
David Wilkinson, Director, Clean Energy Research Centre
Dirk Van Zyl, Mining Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science
Eric Mazzi, Instructor, PowerSmart, Clean Energy Research Centre
Juliet Newson, Chair, Education Committee, International Geothermal Association
Deb Feduik, Master of Engineering Manager, Clean Energy Research Centre
Bret Gilley, Teaching and Learning Fellow, Geoscience Education, Carl Wieman Science Education Initiative and Earth and Ocean Sciences
Eugene Barsky, Librarian, Engineering, UBC Library
Jeff Giffins, Special Project Manager, UBC Utilities / Student, Master of Engineering in Clean Energy
Sarah Kimball, Member, Geothermal Working Group / Student, Mining Engineering
Nastaran Arianpoo, Member, Geothermal Working Group / Student, Mining Engineering

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.