Registration for this course is closed. This course examines the world around us, including human economies from an energy/biophysical perspective. It notes that energy underlies most, if not all aspects of life, from nature to civilization to our economies. It starts with lectures on what energy is; our history of understanding energy; the laws of thermodynamics; the particular role of the sun; the early Earth environment; evolution of life and the importance of green plants and adaptations forced on life in an increasingly oxygenated environment; the evolution of increasing biotic complexity; sequestering fossil fuels; the evolution of mammals and our own species; the increased exploitation of energy by humans; the industrial revolution; and our modern situation with the myriad tradeoffs we face today. Final lectures examine these issues within the context of modern economic and business theory. There will be time for discussion and questions. An undergraduate knowledge of science and economics is helpful but not required.