Swanson School of Engineering

Before the pre-departure meeting, I knew very little about how electrification works. As an Environmental Science major, my background focuses more on renewable energy in a broad sense rather than the technicalities of how energy is produced. The meeting was very beneficial to me because it gave me a good basis for how hydropower works. I learned the basics about how the spinning of turbines in dams produces energy by converting the kinetic energy of moving water into electricity. I am very excited to see the Itaipu Dam, as it is a global leader in renewable energy. From an environmental standpoint, I would be interested to learn how the dam has affected local wildlife, and especially the aquatic ecosystems. Although renewable energy produces fewer emissions, habitat destruction and geological impacts are a concern. In addition to hydropower, I am also very excited to learn more about solar power. During the meeting, we talked about Unisinos University and their solar power generation. I hope to learn more about how solar panels work and their benefits and drawbacks from an engineering perspective. Overall, I am very excited to actually see what I have been learning about in class in a real-world experience!