THERMODYNAMICS EDUCATION AS IT AFFECTS ENERGY SYSTEMS

Thermodynamics, as all courses that end in -ics, is one of the fundamental required courses in Mechanical Engineering. Whether it is at the Undergraduate or Graduate levels, its coverage has seen declines over the last forty years throughout the world. This is a situation that cannot and should not be tolerated since it is THE course that teaches energy systems, what their limitations are and what the future has in store for us. To SUSTAIN is one thing but our ABILITY to do it is another one that Thermodynamics discusses and restricts. In a world that is facing real energy issues, these topics must be explained, understood and used in our everyday lives.

This presentation will discuss all these issues, what was done in the past, what is done in the present and what should be done in the future to guarantee the life that all deserve. Thermodynamics plays a big role in this and thus its teaching/education must be very precise and correct so that teaching/learning of it is also precise/correct.

To be able to do this, we must educate thermodynamics experts as was done until about 1970. Throughout the world in Thermodynamics education we have seen a steep decline in quantity and quality of it. Thus over the last forty years, we have not been educating persons who become teachers of Thermodynamics. Another very important issue is Teaching Teachers to Teach Thermodynamics. This has not been happening either. Therefore The future does not look very bright for our survival when it comes to issues of energy conversion.
We hope to be able to open a real discussion as to what needs to be done and immediately.