Dr. Elzbieta Sikora, Engineering
Sustainability in Engineering
I used the knowledge and skills acquired during Valley and Ridge workshop to revise my First Year Seminar - Respect the Environment. I also added a module on sustainable development regarding materials selections to Materials Engineering course (ESC 414M).
FYS course comprises of discussions on societal (but also personal) implications of climate emergency and the roles engineers can play in seeking solutions towards a net-zero economy by 2050. During our conversations it became apparent that incorporating sustainability into everyday lives would be the best course of action, but I realized that I lacked a more structured pedagogical approach for teaching sustainability. The Valley and Ridge workshop provided me with a framework for it.
This semester I am planning to incorporate a few lectures introducing sustainability, sustainable development and will present a procedure for assessing its effectiveness in real life. I have prepared an example project where students will be considering if advocating for the use of stainless steel cans in place of aluminum ones will result in a positive environmental impact. What factors are important in making these decisions? Throughout the semester students will be working in groups on projects of their choice – the projects will incorporate ‘a sense of place’ (for example interviews with campus sustainability experts and reviewing existing policies).
For the required Materials Engineering course, I added a module survey of materials through the lenses of their role in sustainable development. I will be addressing the losses and lifetimes of metals, identifying critical materials and through a specific example (materials for wind turbines) students will work their way analyzing the content and use of sustainable development.
The Valley & Ridge workshop helped me to gain a broader perspective on applying concepts of sustainability in a strictly technical background.