ABSTRACT
“Energy studies” is an inherently inter-disciplinary field looking at the intersection of energy conversion, production, and consumption in society. It encompasses a range of topics revolving around the intersection of energy technologies, fuels, and resources on the supply side, as well as social processes and influences – including communities of energy users, people affected by energy production, social institutions, customs, traditions, behaviors, and policies – on the demand side. It therefore involves a mosaic of different academic disciplines, including a core of physics, engineering, environmental science, economics, and public policy. This chapter explores the field through the lens of energy technologies and services, phases of energy research, and future directions.
