Resources
About Solar Energy Production
Solar Cells to Solar Power
Interested in learning more? The University of Virginia offers a wealth of opportunities to learn about and gain experience with solar technology. The following classes, extracurricular activities, and research opportunities are a great place to start.
Classes
- CE 3050: Introduction to Green Engineering provides an overview of systems thinking in relation to infrastructure and sustainability. Topics vary by year, but have included explorations of solar energy potential at UVA.
- ECON 4430: Environmental Economics focuses on the economics of environmental regulations, sustainable development, the transition from fossil fuels to renewables, and more.
- EVSC 1080: Resources and the Environment examines human impacts on the environment in the past, present, and future. Areas explored include energy, industry, pollution, nuclear waste, and food production.
- LAW 7693: Energy Businesses and Private Company Acquisitions overviews and analyzes multiple sectors of the energy business, delving into both production and distribution.
- PHYS 1110: Energy in the World and Elsewhere takes a quantitative approach to energy issues related to our society in the present and future.
Student Organizations and Extracurriculars
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Solar Car Team
The Solar Car Team at the University of the Virginia allows for students to work together to design, construct, test, race, and exhibit solar cars. Students on the team gain hands-on experience with solar technology. All majors are welcome.
The team is structured in three branches:
- The Mechanical Branch is in charge of building the exterior and interior body of the car, as well as the steering and breaking mechanisms.
- The Electrical Branch is in charge of designing the electrical components of the car.
- The Business Branch curates internal and external team logistics.
Research Opportunities
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Mool C. Gupta Group
Research focuses include high power laser application for solar cell manufacturers, thermal solar, thermophotovoltaics, quantum dots based solar concentrators, and more. The lab is supported by National Science Foundation funds, and is headed by Langley Distinguished Professor and Founding Director of NSF Industry/University Cooperative Research Center for Lasers and Plasmas at the University of Virginia, Dr. Mool C. Gupta.
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Choi Laboratory
The Choi Laboratory experiments with the fabrication of optoelectronic devices, exploring relationship between the structure and physical properties of semiconductor nanomaterials with the goal of bringing about advances in the technological applications of these devices. The group is headed by Dr. Joshua J. Choi, Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Virginia.
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