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Curricula For A Sustainable Future: A proposal for integrating environmental concepts into our curricula

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 March 2011

Linda Vanasupa  and
Frank G. Splitt
Linda Vanasupa
Affiliation:
Materials Engineering Department, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407, lvanasup@calpoly.edu
Frank G. Splitt
Affiliation:
McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, fgsplitt@ece.northwestern.edu
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Abstract

The global scientific community recognizes the critical need for industries to develop and practice manufacturing techniques that minimize harm to our environment. In the National Science Board's report Environmental Science and Engineering for the 21st Century, the National Science Foundation was urged to promote “Environmental research, education, and scientific assessment [as] one of NSF's higher priorities.” Although there are a number of independent efforts to fold environmental issues in existing undergraduate curricula, no dominant method has emerged as a means of including these concepts. One of the difficulties in adjusting our materials science and engineering (MSE) curricula is the problem of how and what to include in an already full curriculum. In this paper, we propose a path for integrating environmental and sustainability concepts within the framework of existing curricula. We will suggest learning outcomes for each year of the MSE curriculum and offer examples.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 827: Symposium BB – Educating Tomorrow's materials Scientists & Engineers , 2004 , BB4.5
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2004

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