I first heard about peak oil in the spring of 1957 when my chemistry professor (in freshman chemistry class at Purdue Univ.) drew a Hubbart curve on the board and told us that we should expect to be affected by peak oil during our lifetimes.  This made a very big impression on me.  I became a chemistry professor myself and have always included a discussion of peak oil in all my freshman classes. I have had about 8000 students in the years since, and unfortunately, almost every one of them has slept through or ignored the information.  I don't know how to get it across.  I guess they just don't want to hear it.