Mehmet Yumurtacı & Ali Keçebaş on Renewable Energy Education in Turkey
New Hot Paper Commentary, September 2011
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Article: Renewable energy and its university level education in Turkey
Authors: Yumurtaci, M;Kecebas, A |
Mehmet Yumurtaci & Ali Keçebas talk with ScienceWatch.com and answer a few questions about this month's New Hot Paper in the field of Social Sciences, general.
Why do you think your paper is highly
cited?
The world has difficulty meeting the increasing energy demand resulting from rapid industrialization and population increase. As all countries will consume fossil-based energy resources to meet their energy demands, the concern for new energy resources or energy management increases daily. On the other hand, the purpose of education and training is to prepare people for the future. In meeting the real requirements of education and training, the requirements for society to still exist 30-50 years later must be considered.
Energy is the vital requirement of each society and it reflects the living standard and development status of any nation. A nation that meets its energy requirements must also know the extent of risks it will face. Renewable energy education is a very new field of education. Most of the opportunities and struggles experienced on that topic both in Turkey and the world generally take place at the university level. For this reason, our article has been frequently referenced.
Does it describe a new discovery, methodology, or
synthesis of knowledge?
"We must not ignore the social and economic implications of renewable energy education in our world, where the rate of energy usage is an indicator of the level of development of a society."
Yes, it does. This research, by introducing the deficiencies and incomplete aspects of the renewable energy education in Turkey, emphasizes that renewable energy education in Turkey can be applied widely in every phase of education by being further developed.
In addition, the article provides information about how renewable energy education is taught at engineering universities, and about its current status. It also presents suggestions and expectations on education to be given in the field. This subject captures the attention of many countries and so, it creates a wide effect.
Would you summarize the significance of your paper
in layman's terms?
It introduces a new aspect about the current status of renewable energy education in Turkey by presenting various suggestions to make improvements. Given that fossil-based energy resources will be exhausted in the future, the use of renewable energy resources in every area widely becomes obligatory.
How did you become involved in this research, and
how would you describe the particular challenges, setbacks, and
successes that you've encountered along the way?
In the literature, there are many studies on renewable energy education. As it is a new field, many problems have been experienced. The biggest difficulty we face in this field is the lack of information related to renewable energy education. Upon examination of the existing literature, this deficiency has been recognized, and, to eliminate such a deficiency, our research has been presented. In developing countries like Turkey, this kind of information deficiency is a significant problem, because effective and productive energy education is only possible through closing that gap.
Where do you see your research leading in the
future?
From our conclusions, it is expected that renewable energy will make a contribution in every field in which it can be used effectively and productively. Accomplishing this will require applying renewable energy education on these fields in a systematic, planned, and programmed manner.
Do you foresee any social or political
implications for your research?
Yes. We must not ignore the social and economic implications of renewable energy education in our world, where the rate of energy usage is an indicator of the level of development of a society. We must ensure that the social and political aspects of renewable energy education will benefit the people of these societies.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank for personal support by Prof. Ayhan
Demirbas (from the Sila Science & Energy Company).
Mehmet Yumurtaci
Afyon Kocatepe University
Technical Education Faculty
Department of Electricity
Afyonkarahisar, Turkey
Ali Keçebas
Afyon Kocatepe University
Technology Faculty
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Afyonkarahisar, Turkey
KEYWORDS: RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES; HIGHER EDUCATION; EDUCATION; TRAINING.