BUS 369 - Green IS in Iceland: Sustainable Information Systems

Experiential Learning (EXP): Yes
Credits: 4

Prerequisite: instructor consent. Sustainability is currently one of the most important issues our world faces and will continue to be so for decades, as it will take substantial time and effort to reverse some of the most adverse environmental changes humans have caused. The ambition of sustainable, or green, Information Systems (IS) is to exploit technology and information to enable society to “meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Information System (IS) and Information Technology (IT) play a critical role in sustainable development, and Energy Informatics is an approach to addressing sustainability by reducing energy consumption. By learning about Energy Informatics, students enrolled in this class will gain multi-disciplinary knowledge they can use to contribute to a sustainable future. The course culminates with a two-week field study in Iceland comprising numerous site visits to organizations focused on sustainable energy as well as cultural excursions throughout the country focused on the history, culture, geology, and economy of Iceland to help students better understand the significance of Iceland’s shift to “extreme tech” to attain ecosustainability.