Environmental impacts of non-renewable energy in Niger Delta and Chicago

​​​​​Project Summary:

• This virtual exchange collaboration between DePaul University and the University of Uyo focused on the environmental impacts of non-renewable energy production, marketing, and consumption in both Nigeria's Niger Delta and the city of Chicago. Students from both schools worked collaboratively with organizations, institutions, and citizen groups in Nigeria and Chicago to analyze the oil and coal industries in both countries. They created strategies that support community-based programs, helping them manage and reduce the impacts of oil and coal production, marketing, and consumption on human development in Nigeria and Chicago.

Project Length:

• 5 Weeks

Technology Tools Used:

• Zoom
• WhatsApp
• Google Docs
• PowerPoint
• Google Slides

Communication Type/ Interaction Mode :

• Synchronous
• Asynchronous

Learning Outcomes:

• Identify environmental, social, and economic impacts of the oil industry on the Niger Delta and the coal industry in Chicago
• Describe the ethical, cross-cultural, and historical context of fossil fuel use in Nigeria and the U.S.
• Describe different approaches to responding to the environmental, social, and economic impacts of fossil fuel use in the U.S. and Nigeria

Reflection Component:

• Final synchronous meeting via Zoom.

Empathy Building Component:

• Three main activities helped the students get to know each other:
  1. Students watched videos that described the daily life in both universities. DePaul used marketing videos available from DePaul's YouTube page. The University of Uyo used videos created by students from the University.
  2. Students participated in a synchronous meeting through Zoom in which the students talked about favorite foods, activities, vacation spots, etc.
  3. Students introduced themselves to each other in their research groups using WhatsApp.

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