Physics in Action: Energy and the Materials Powering a Sustainable Future

The course sequence is designed to empower students to take ownership of their learning. In the fall, students will engage in structured active-learning labs that build both content knowledge and confidence in their ability to analyze real-world systems. By spring, they will transition from guided learning to self-directed inquiry, developing their own energy- or sustainability-related project. They will learn to set goals, manage timelines, and make decisions with real consequences for their project outcomes. This structure mirrors the authentic research and innovation process, allowing students to see themselves as capable contributors rather than passive learners. By the end of the year, students will have experienced moving from conceptual understanding to practical application, an essential step toward developing personal agency.

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  • Coursework Overview

    The coursework for this Endeavor community involves taking a one-unit course in the fall semester and a half-unit course in the spring semester, both taught by Dr. Mariama Rebello de Sousa Dias.

    Fall 2026 Semester

    Spring 2027 Semester

    PHYS 131: Calculus-Based General Physics with Lab (1 unit)

    AND

    MATH 211: Calculus I (1 unit)*

    IDST 190: Physics in Action: Energy and the Materials Powering a Sustainable Future Seminar (0.5 units)

    *Students with approved AP Credit for Calculus I will opt out of MATH 211.

    PHYS 131 is a required course for Physics majors and minors and satisfies a Web of Inquiry Natural Science Area of Inquiry.

    MATH 211 is a required course of Math majors and minors and satisfies a Web of Inquiry Symbolic Reasoning Area of Inquiry.  You will be enrolled in a specific section that you must stay in.  This will be a class that you will not necessarily take with Endeavor peers enrolled in this program.

    IDST 190 is a half-unit project-based course part of the Endeavor program.

  • Specific Course Information

    PHYS 131: Calculus-Based General Physics 1 with Lab

    PHYS 131 introduces students to the foundational principles of mechanics, including kinematics, Newton’s laws, work and energy, momentum, and rotational motion. This course integrates hands-on experiments, collaborative problem-solving, and conceptual discussions to build a deep understanding of how the physical world operates. Using an active-learning Workshop Physics format, students develop quantitative reasoning, experimental skills, and the ability to communicate scientific ideas effectively. PHYS 131 satisfies a Field of Study requirement in the Natural Sciences and serves as an introductory course for the Physics major and minor. A thematic emphasis on Physics as a tool for understanding and shaping the world around us will provide an intellectual thread that connects the fall course to the spring project.  

    IDST 190: Physics in Action: Energy and the Materials Powering a Sustainable Future

    In the spring semester, students will work in small teams on a faculty-guided project that applies mechanics principles to real-world questions about energy and sustainability. Projects may involve modeling and testing small-scale renewable energy systems (such as solar concentrators or wind turbines), analyzing energy efficiency in local settings, or designing interactive demonstrations for community engagement. Through weekly meetings, students will learn how to define research questions, design experiments or models, collect and analyze data, and present their findings. Benchmarks, including a project proposal, mid-semester progress check, and final presentation, will guide their work. The goal is for students to experience authentic discovery and problem-solving, reinforcing their fall learning while cultivating collaboration, communication, and applied scientific thinking. 

  • Faculty Information

    Dr. Mariama Rebello de Sousa Dias is an Associate Professor of Physics

  • Endeavor Short Course Information

    As part of the Endeavor program, you will participate in the popular Endeavor Pre-Orientation program, where you will take a short course led by Dr. Mariama Rebello de Sousa Dias.

    Short Course Description:  The Physics of Motion: Forces, Falling, and Jumping Higher

    How fast can you jump? Why do astronauts float? What forces act on you when you squat, run, or fall? In this interactive pre-orientation course, students explore the physics of motion through experiments, real-world examples, and hands-on data collection. Using force sensors and real measurements, you will learn how forces cause motion, how gravity shapes movement on Earth and beyond, and how scientists analyze motion using fundamental physical laws. Students will even analyze their own “hang time” and jump height using physics principles. This course provides an exciting introduction to scientific inquiry and shows how physics connects directly to the world—and your own body.