Crude oil is currently our most important global source of energy. This module explores oil’s vital role in the modern world and assesses some of the exciting scientific developments that could lead to sustainable alternatives to oil. Living without oil: chemistry for a sustainable future is one of a series of short, five month 10-credit modules introducing fascinating topics in science. With a choice of start dates it enables you to try out a new area of study before you commit yourself to a longer module, or top up your knowledge and skills between longer modules.
What you will study
Crude oil is currently our most important global source of energy. It is vital in the manufacture of many modern materials. But the world’s supply of oil is finite, its price is unstable and our reliance on oil has damaging environmental consequences. Can we sustainably fuel our transport needs with biofuels, electricity or hydrogen? Can we replace the plastics we derive from crude oil with ones made by microorganisms or plants?
You will explore the properties of crude oil that make it so useful and then use this knowledge to examine some potential sustainable alternatives. You’ll study the development of biofuels; battery electric vehicles; hydrogen as fuel; and the production of biologically derived materials to replace plastics. Throughout the module you’ll focus on assessing the environmental impacts of these potential alternatives to oil products.
The module will demonstrate that while developing these alternatives requires the application of a wide range of different scientific disciplines, chemistry plays a central role in our efforts to replace oil.
By the end of this module you will have developed a range of study skills associated with retrieving and interpreting information and data from a variety of sources, including in the form of tables, charts and graphs, as well as from online articles, audio and video material. You will also have engaged with some of the fundamental concepts needed to study chemistry.
Living without oil: chemistry for a sustainable future is based on a specially written OU study book, together with a website which will link to online study material. The study book will provide questions and answers to help test your understanding, and that you can use for self-assessment throughout the module. Each chapter of the book has a number of associated activities which can be accessed via the website.
This module has been partly funded by the Wolfson Foundation in collaboration with The Royal Society of Chemistry.
Vocational relevance
The module will be of particular relevance to people working in the energy supply industry. Also anyone with a professional interest in sustainable transport, alternative energy, and environmental matters will find the module very relevant.
Entry
Please note: this module is only available for standalone study. You cannot count the credits you gain from the module towards any current OU qualification. It may be possible, however, to count the credits gained towards a qualification if you are already studying with us and have declared your qualification intention before September 2012 – see your qualification description in StudentHome for details.
This module does not assume any previous scientific background and teaches the ideas and skills needed as and when they are required.
You will meet a wide range of scientific and technological subjects in this module and will have to be prepared to understand some basic science: particularly chemistry but also some physics, biology and geology. You will probably find that you can move faster through the study materials if you have a little basic knowledge of general science, especially chemistry. However all you really need is an interest in the issues involved and in learning more about the underlying science
Mathematically, you should be able to add, subtract, multiply and divide positive and negative numbers and understand the use of brackets in numerical calculations. You will meet numbers expressed as fractions, decimals and using powers (e.g. 103 for 1000). A maths skills e-book is provided to help you with, for example, fractions, percentages, reading graphs and tables, and scientific units as required.
You should be able to read and understand written English of a style and complexity characteristic of a professional magazine or quality newspaper, and you should be able to communicate your thoughts clearly and comprehensibly in a written format.
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the module, please speak to an adviser.
If you have a disability
The OU strives to make all aspects of study accessible to everyone and this Accessibility Statement outlines what studying S176 involves. You should use this information to inform your study preparations and any discussions with us about how we can meet your needs.
Study materials
What's included
Study book, online audio and video activities, study guide, website.
You will need
A basic scientific calculator and access to a digital camera or scanner.
You may be required to draw diagrams or to annotate diagrams that you download, and then to use either a scanner or a digital camera to produce electronic versions of these diagrams for inclusion in your assessment. Alternatively creating diagrams electronically will be acceptable.
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Teaching and assessment
Study support
You can contact a team of study advisers, through an online discussion forum, who will be able to help you with academic questions to do with the module and the assessment. There will also be an online discussion forum that you can use to get in touch with other students and study advisers.
Contact us if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details for this module can be found in the facts box above.
You must use the online system to submit your end-of-module assessment (EMA).
You will have to submit the single piece of written work for assessment after 21 weeks. There will be no other opportunity to complete the module.
Future availability
Living without oil: chemistry for a sustainable future (S176) starts twice a year – in April and October. This page describes the module that will start in October 2017 and April 2018. We expect it to start for the last time in October 2018.
Regulations
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations which are available on our
Student Policies and Regulations website.