Present Status Of Solar Energy Education

This paper briefly describes the history and status of solar energy education. The energy awareness in the early 1970s led to a concerted research and development effort in solar energy applications. Solar energy education followed these efforts at the advanced college level. However, R&D slowed down in the mid 1980s and solar energy education at the college level followed that trend. Over the last three decades developments in solar energy applications have made it possible to use solar energy for most of our energy needs and even some environmental needs. However, despite the worldwide awareness of environmental degradation, the present public policy does not favor the use of solar energy over conventional fuels. Many solar energy applications do not appear cost effective using conventional financial tools. Therefore, there is a need to educate public policy makers, financial professionals and the general public. This presents an opportunity to develop educational materials, short courses and seminars, to educate public policy makers and financial professionals who are extremely important to increase the use of solar energy, yet who are least familiar with it. There is a great deal of K-12 solar energy educational materials that has been developed in different parts of the world. Advanced information technologies can be used to compile and make this material available throughout the world.