As part of the ESE and DSE curricula, students participate in knowledge breadth coursework and activities. The Bredesen Center provides students the opportunity to broaden their skills in energy policy, education, outreach, and science communication through various courses across campus.
- POLS 549: Environmental Policy
- AREC 470: Policy Analysis and Environmental Policy
- ECON: 678 Economic of Environmental Policy
- LAW 866: Environmental Law and Policy
- PHIL 545: Topics: Environmental Ethics
- ESE 597: Energy Policy
- POLS 551: Energy Policy
- AREC 445 – Renewable Energy Economics
- NE 530: Nuclear Security Sci & Analysis
- NE 531: Global Nuclear Security Culture
- NE 635: Nuclear Forensics
- NE 404 – Nuclear Fuel Cycle (also offered for graduate credit)
- NE 536 – Export Control and Nonproliferation (suspect no longer offered)
- NE 697 – Special Topics in Nuclear Engineering (one-offs or custom courses)
- POLS 571 – Foundations of Security Studies
- POLS 686 – Arms Control, Deterrence, and Nuclear Nonproliferation (offered intermittently)
- POLS 556: Policy Analysis
- JREM 451: Environmental Writing
- PHYS 405: Science Technology and Public Policy
- EPP 675: Scientific Writing/Grantsmanship
- MICR 594: Grant Writing
Student Engagement
Through local projects and national internships, Bredesen Center students contribute to the policy focus of their communities enabling them to become future leaders and role models in energy science and policy.
Mallory Ladd
Catalyzing Advocacy in Science and Engineering (CASE) Workshop Attendee (2017): This program is designed to educate graduate students interested in learning about the role of science in policy-making process, and to empower them with ways to become a voice for basic research throughout their careers. Students from around the country participate in a 3-day program in Washington, D.C. where they learn from experts about the structure and organization of Congress, the federal budget and appropriations processes, and tools for effective science communication and civic engagement.
Tracey Wellington (Alumni)
House Bill 043
Mark Christian and Victoria DiStefano
Assisted Tennessee legislators in designing and advocating for a bill (link to bill here) that would put into place an Energy Policy Council focused on engaging with stakeholders and enhancing stakeholder communication to create a path forward for Tennessee’s energy production, transportation, and use.
Tracey Wellington (Alumni)
DOE Scholars Summer Internship Program (2013): Provided technical and logistical support for a variety of activities within the Office of Innovative Nuclear Research (NE-42) including the Nuclear Energy University Programs (NEUP), Nuclear Energy Enabling Technologies Crosscutting Technology Development (NEET), and Small Business Innovative Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR).
Justin Knowles (Alumni), Kristian Myhre (Alumni), Emily Clark (Alumni), Mary Alice Cusentino, Mark Christian (Alumni), Jamieson Brechtl, Guinevere Shaw
Students in the Bredesen Center urged the Environmental Protection Agency to apply technology-neutral regulations on carbon emissions to all states in order to allow industry to employ a free market approach. A technology-neutral regulation methodology will provide both an accurate picture of the emission goals and the freedom for states to reach these goals in a manner most appropriate for their circumstance. This increased accuracy and freedom is more politically viable and therefore more likely to reach the emission reduction goals initially set forth by the Clean Power Plan. The full text of the student’s comment is available: EPA Clean Power Plan Student Comment
Guinevere Shaw
Howard Baker Public Policy Challenge 3rd Place Winner: Developed a policy to increase The University of Tennessee student volunteerism in local Community Schools. Volunteer Community Network (VOLCON).
Justin Knowles (Alumni), Tracey Wellington (Alumni), Anagha Iyengar, Blake Palles (Alumni)
Each year, the Delegation convenes in Washington and formulates a set of policy statements that convey their views on nuclear energy, education, and research. As a part of the 2014 Delegation, students contributed to this statement and met with policymakers on Capitol Hill to deliberate over the subjects they identified as important to energy policy and nuclear engineering education
Christine Ajinjeru, Jayde Aufrecht, Mallory Ladd
PLEN Network Women in Global Policy Workshop: Students learn about foreign policy from leaders who advocate for international security and development, humanitarian issues, and citizens’ rights. During the workshop, participants meet with Congressional leaders, diplomats, State Department officials, staff from international organizations, think tank researchers, and corporate or nonprofit advocates.
U.S. Department of State Diplomacy Lab: Worked with U.S. Department of State on the Costs and Benefits of a Closed Nuclear Fuel Cycle in Japan.
Mallory Ladd
Staff Intern with the Science & Technology Innovation Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (2015): Mallory spent eight weeks at the Wilson Center, a think tank located in the Ronald Reagan Building in the heart of Washington, D.C. while working on an independent research project that culminated with a report on policy recommendations for how omics technologies may be used to inform Arctic science policy. Interns attend policy hearings on Capitol Hill and meet with representatives and senators, or their staffers, from relevant committees to assist in their research.
Local Opportunities
- Advocacy for Tennessee House Bill
- Committee of the Campus Environment and the Office of Sustainability Energy Projects
- Emerge Tennessee
- Howard Baker Public Policy Challenge
National Opportunities
- American Council on Renewable Energy Internship Program
- AAAS Catalyzing Advocacy in Science and Engineering (CASE) Workshop
- AAAS Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellowship
- American Council on Renewable Energy Internship Program
- Christine Mirzayan Science & Technology Policy Graduate Fellowship
- Clean Cities University Workforce Development Program
- DOE Office of Energy Policy and Systems Analysis Internship Program
- DOE Scholars
- Environmental and Energy Study Institute Richard L. Ottinger Internship Program
- NSF Summer Scholars Internship Program
- US State Department Student Internship Program
- Washington Nuclear Engineering Student Delegation
- White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Internship Program
- Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars Internship Program
- AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellowship
- Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy Fellowship
- CCST Science Policy Fellowship
- Christine Mirzayan Science & Technology Policy Graduate Fellowship Program
- Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Science and Technology Policy Fellowship
- Presidential Innovation Fellows
- Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program
- ACS Congressional Fellowship
- AGU Congressional Fellowship
- AIP Congressional Fellowship
- AMS Congressional Fellowship
- APA Congressional Fellowship
- APAICS Congressional Fellowship
- APS Congressional Fellowship
- ASA Congressional Fellowship
- BPS Congressional Science & Technology Policy Fellowship
- IEEE-USA Congressional Fellowship
- MRS Congressional Fellowship
- OSA Congressional Fellowship
- Soils Congressional Fellowship
Journals and Associations
- AAAS Forum on Science & Technology Policy
- Atlanta Conference on Science & Innovation Policy
- Gordon Research Seminar on Science & Technology Policy
- The Journal of Science Policy & Governance
- Journal of Science and Public Policy
- ST Global: Science & Technology In Society Conference
- Triple Helix: The Science in Society Review
- Triple Helix: Annual Meeting