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Using a “Campus as a Classroom Concept” to Highlight Sustainability Practice to Engineers and Scientists
Author(s) -
Evans G.,
Scaife P.,
Maddox B.,
Galvin K.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
developments in chemical engineering and mineral processing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1932-2143
pISSN - 0969-1855
DOI - 10.1002/apj.5500120413
Subject(s) - sustainability , process (computing) , relation (database) , engineering , engineering ethics , management science , systems thinking , architectural engineering , engineering management , computer science , artificial intelligence , ecology , database , biology , operating system
Chemical engineering at the University of Newcastle has introduced a “Systems Thinking” approach in response to the changing needs of today's young engineers, particularly in relation to sustainable development and interaction with the wider community. The basic concepts are reinforced to the students in the form of case studies. The activities cover a broad range of traditional chemical engineering principles, including fluid mechanics, heat and mass transfer, process flowsheeting, and design. The case studies have the additional dimensions of life cycle modelling, environmental impact assessment, and direct interaction with the broader community. In this paper, two examples, involving Building Design and On‐Site Water Management, are presented, including a brief description, desired learning outcomes, results and general observations. Generally, it was found that the case studies provided an excellent framework for establishing a systems approach to arriving at solutions, and acted as a focus for quantitative analysis using the various tools taught during the course. Most importantly, the material presented assisted students to understand the practices which contribute to the transition to a sustainable society.