An energy revolution is underway, and needs to accelerate to support climate and economic goals. But the general citizenry does not understand our current energy systems, particularly the seemingly invisible phenomena of electricity, and its generation, distribution, and use. Addressing this challenge is the purpose of a grand challenge course called “Power Systems Journey: Making the Invisible, Visible and Actionable.” Co-instructors, Jonee Kulman Brigham and Paul Imbertson have curated an exhibit focused on sketches made by their students in the class.

The sketches follow the student’s journey from the lighting system in the Bell Museum, upstream to various power plants and transmission lines of the electric power grid, to a substation, and back to the Bell Museum where the electric light meets its final use. This experiential exploration of our current electric power grid gave students a foundation of understanding about the grid’s challenges and opportunities. Based on this and other explorations summarized in the exhibit, students proposed and promoted solutions for the electric grid of the future as part of society’s energy transition in progress.

The exhibit opens Wednesday, December 4, 2019. There is a public reception Thursday, December 5, 2019 from 4pm – 6pm with a brief program at 5:00 pm. The location is Institute on the Environment, Commons Meeting and Art Space, LES Building, 1954 Buford Avenue, St. Paul Campus, University of Minnesota.