One more interdisciplinary challenge: Incorporating renewable energy teaching and research at the postgraduate programme in environment and development of the Federal university of Paraná, Brazil

Abstract

This paper discusses the context and challenges of incorporating a new teaching and research nucleus on Renewable Energy in an interdisciplinary postgraduate programme based in the frontier between environmental and social sciences at the Federal University of Paraná, Brazil. The creation of the nucleus was boosted by a partnership with Itaipu Binational and aims to address the complex relationship among Energy, Environment and Development in a context of global environmental crisis. It gives rise to the beginning of a new phase of the programme with particular academic challenges and opportunities.