Program Overview

Course Overview

The course "Resources, Energy and Environment" (TMT4330) is a 7.5-credit course offered at the second degree level. It commences in the autumn of 2025 and spans one semester. The language of instruction is English, and the course is located in Trondheim.

Course Content

The course provides an overview of the mineral-based industry, its role in the world, and the sustainability issues it faces. It examines the exploitation of minerals and mineral products, the implications for sustainability of consuming finite mineral resources, and the wastes associated with their production and use. The course adopts a multi-disciplinary approach, integrating the physical and earth sciences with aspects of the social sciences, energy, ecology, and economics.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completing the course, students will be able to:

• Identify and describe the effects on the environment from a given industrial activity
• Explain different aspects with alternative methods to mitigate a given effect on the environment
• Choose and explain the necessity of chemical control in industrial activities
• Formulate and analyze problems regarding reclamation and recycling of metals

Learning Methods and Activities

The course includes lectures by instructors and group work by students, who will be responsible for teaching parts of the curriculum. Students are expected to produce a term paper on central issues in the course and attend at least 80% of the lectures. Examination papers will be in English if the teaching is given in English, but students can choose Norwegian or English for written assessments.

Evaluation

The assessment consists of a written exam and a report with a mandatory oral adjustment. In the case of a re-sit exam, the exam form might change to an oral examination.

Recommended Previous Knowledge

Students are expected to have a general background in Materials Technology and Chemistry.

Course Materials

The recommended textbook is "Minerals, Metals and Sustainability Meeting Future Material Needs" by W. J. Rankin, published by CSIRO in 2011 (ISBN 978-0). Additional support literature will be provided at the beginning of the course.

Credit Reductions

This course has academic overlap with TMT4505 and TMT5505. If students take overlapping courses, they will receive a credit reduction in the course where they have the lowest grade. If the grades are the same, the reduction will be applied to the course completed most recently.

Subject Areas

The course covers:

• Materials Science and Engineering
• Process Metallurgy
• Technological subjects

Examination Arrangement

The examination arrangement is an aggregate score with letter grades. The ordinary examination in autumn 2025 includes a school exam (80% weighting) and an assignment (20% weighting). The re-sit examination in summer 2026 will have a similar structure, but the exam form might change.