![Motivation
SEVERAL STATEMENTS OVER PAST DECADE AND A HALF ABOUT
NEED FOR ENGINEERS TO UNDERSTAND SUSTAINABILITY
1999 statement on Sustainable Development:
“ASEE believes that engineering graduates must be
ASEE
prepared by their education to use sustainable
engineering techniques in the practice of their
profession…”
Code of Ethics Fundamental Canon 1:
ASCE
“Engineers shall…strive to comply with the
principles of sustainable development”
Code of Ethics Fundamental Canon 8:
“Engineers shall consider environmental impact and
ASME
sustainable development in the performance of
their professional duties.”
Code of Ethics Professional Obligation 2:
“Engineers are encouraged to adhere to the
NSPE
principles of sustainable development in order to
protect the environment for future generations”
Student Outcome Criterion 3(c)
ABET
“an ability to design … within realistic constraints
such as … [list of eight including] … sustainability.”](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/hoffmannaseefinal-110722132831-phpapp01/75/Defining-sustainable-engineering-a-comparative-analysis-of-published-sustainability-principles-and-existing-courses-2-2048.jpg)
![Coding the principles
DfE
GC
CH
RA
GE
NS
EC
CE
Be
Ba
IT
H
IF
A
S
Holistic Integration
and Design
RA 9: “Adopt a holistic ‘cradle-to-grave’
approach.”
Ba4: [Today’s engineers must be able to]
“apply a holistic and systematic
approach to problem solving…”
Ba13: [Engineering education…must]
“strengthen systematic thinking and a
holistic approach.”
GE10: “Design…must include integration
and interconnectivity…”
S1: “Engineer…holistically, use systems
analysis, and integrate environmental
impact assessment tools.”](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/hoffmannaseefinal-110722132831-phpapp01/75/Defining-sustainable-engineering-a-comparative-analysis-of-published-sustainability-principles-and-existing-courses-14-2048.jpg)
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Defining "sustainable engineering": a comparative analysis of published sustainability principles and existing courses
The document analyzes published sustainability principles and engineering courses to define "sustainable engineering" knowledge for students. It codes 160 principles from 15 sustainability documents into 59 codes organized into 6 themes. Themes include traditional environmental goals, specific things to protect/improve, systems thinking, social equity/justice, intergenerational responsibility, and economic viability. Comparing the principles and course descriptions may help determine necessary sustainability knowledge for students.
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Defining "sustainable engineering": a comparative analysis of published sustainability principles and existing courses
- 1. Defining “Sustainable Engineering”: a Comparative Analysis of Published Sustainability Principles and Existing Courses Stephen R. Hoffmann1, Alice L. Pawley1,2, Ranjani L. Rao3, Monica E. Cardella1,2, Matthew W. Ohland2 1Division of Environmental and Ecological Engineering; 2School of Engineering Education; 3Brian Lamb School of Communication Purdue University,West Lafayette
- 2. Motivation SEVERAL STATEMENTS OVERPAST DECADE AND A HALF ABOUT NEED FOR ENGINEERS TO UNDERSTAND SUSTAINABILITY 1999 statement on Sustainable Development: “ASEE believes that engineering graduates must be ASEE prepared by their education to use sustainable engineering techniques in the practice of their profession…” Code of Ethics Fundamental Canon 1: ASCE “Engineers shall…strive to comply with the principles of sustainable development” Code of Ethics Fundamental Canon 8: “Engineers shall consider environmental impact and ASME sustainable development in the performance of their professional duties.” Code of Ethics Professional Obligation 2: “Engineers are encouraged to adhere to the NSPE principles of sustainable development in order to protect the environment for future generations” Student Outcome Criterion 3(c) ABET “an ability to design … within realistic constraints such as … [list of eight including] … sustainability.”
- 3. Big picture: ASKproject Early question toward developing an assessment framework for sustainability knowledge of engineering students: What is the set of concepts, ideas, approaches, tools, methods, and philosophies that could be included as the “necessary knowledge of sustainability” for all engineering students?
- 4. Goals of thispresentation What is the set of concepts, ideas, approaches, tools, methods, and philosophies that could be included as the “necessary knowledge of sustainability” for all engineering students?
- 5. Goals of thispresentation What is the set of concepts, ideas, approaches, tools, methods, and philosophies that could be included as the “necessary knowledge of sustainability” for all engineering students? How do detailed statements of sustainability principles define sustainability?
- 6. Goals of thispresentation What is the set of concepts, ideas, approaches, tools, methods, and philosophies that could be included as the “necessary knowledge of sustainability” for all engineering students? How do detailed What is included in statements of engineering course sustainability principles titles and descriptions define sustainability? about sustainability?
- 7. Goals of thispresentation What is the set of concepts, ideas, approaches, tools, methods, and philosophies that could be included as the “necessary knowledge of sustainability” for all engineering students? How do detailed What is included in statements of engineering course sustainability principles titles and descriptions define sustainability? about sustainability? How do these two data sets compare?
- 8. Statements of Principles • Fifteen sets of sustainability principles : – Engineering / Technical Context Chameau – keynote at ASEE Deans Inst. – 1999 Design for Environment – UNEP/CNRC – 1995 Principles of Green Chemistry – ACS – 1998 Principles of Green Engineering – 2003 Engr. for Sust. Devel. – Royal Academy – 2005 Sandestin Conference – 2003 – Governmental Context – Industrial Context – Educational Context
- 9. Statements of Principles • Fifteen sets of sustainability principles : – Engineering / Technical Context – Governmental Context Ahwahnee Principles – local govt. – 1991 Bellagio Principles – UN, assessment – 1996 Earth Charter – UN, Rio summit – 2000 Hannover Principles – urban design – 1992 – Industrial Context – Educational Context
- 10. Statements of Principles • Fifteen sets of sustainability principles : – Engineering / Technical Context – Governmental Context – Industrial Context CERES Principles – CSR – 1989 Interface – individual company statement Natural Step – corporate/societal – 1989 – Educational Context
- 11. Statements of Principles • Fifteen sets of sustainability principles : – Engineering / Technical Context – Governmental Context – Industrial Context – Educational Context ITESM Principles – individual university – 2005 Barcelona Principles – from International Conference on Engineering Education for Sustainable Development (EESD) – 2004
- 12. Collecting the principles DfE GC CH RA GE NS EC CE Be Ba IT H IF A S Each set includes four to sixteen principles. Textual analysis with coding of principles into one or more codes.
- 13. Coding the principles DfE GC CH RA GE NS EC CE Be Ba IT H IF A S ROYAL ACADEMY #9: “Guiding Principles of Engineering for Sustainable Development” original text: “Adopt a holistic ‘cradle-to-grave’ approach.” code: Holistic Integration and Design
- 14. Coding the principles DfE GC CH RA GE NS EC CE Be Ba IT H IF A S Holistic Integration and Design RA 9: “Adopt a holistic ‘cradle-to-grave’ approach.” Ba4: [Today’s engineers must be able to] “apply a holistic and systematic approach to problem solving…” Ba13: [Engineering education…must] “strengthen systematic thinking and a holistic approach.” GE10: “Design…must include integration and interconnectivity…” S1: “Engineer…holistically, use systems analysis, and integrate environmental impact assessment tools.”
- 15. Coding the principles DfE GC CH RA GE NS EC CE Be Ba IT H IF A S BELLAGIO #3: from UN, Focus on Assessment of progress toward sustainability original text: “ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS: a) consider equity and disparity within the current population and between present and future generations, dealing with such concerns as resource use, over-consumption and poverty, human rights, and access to services, as appropriate. b) consider the ecological conditions on which life depends c) consider economic development and other, non- market activities that contribute to human/social well-being.
- 16. Coding the principles DfE GC CH RA GE NS EC CE Be Ba IT H IF A S BELLAGIO #3: from UN, Focus on Assessment of progress toward sustainability original text: “ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS: a) consider equity and disparity within the current population and between present and future generations, dealing with such concerns as resource use, over-consumption and poverty, human rights, and access to services, as appropriate. b) consider the ecological conditions on which life Protection of depends c) consider economic development and other, non- biosphere and market activities that contribute to human/social ecological systems well-being.
- 17. DfE GC Coding the principles CH RA GE NS EC CE Be Ba IT H IF A S BELLAGIO #3: from UN, Focus on Assessment of progress toward sustainability original text: “ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS: a) consider equity and disparity within the current population and between present and future generations, dealing with such concerns as resource use, over-consumption and poverty, human rights, and access to services, as appropriate. b) consider the ecological conditions on which life Resource conservation depends c) consider economic development and other, non- market activities that contribute to human/social well-being.
- 18. DfE GC Coding the principles CH RA GE NS EC CE Be Ba IT H IF A S BELLAGIO #3: from UN, Focus on Assessment of progress toward sustainability original text: “ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS: a) consider equity and disparity within the current population and between present and future generations, dealing with such concerns as resource use, over-consumption and poverty, human rights, and access to services, as appropriate. b) consider the ecological conditions on which life Promote human depends c) consider economic development and other, non- welfare, basic human market activities that contribute to needs, quality of life human/social well-being.
- 19. Coding the principles DfE GC CH RA GE NS EC CE Be Ba IT H IF A S BELLAGIO #3: from UN, Focus on Assessment of progress toward sustainability original text: “ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS: a) consider equity and disparity within the current population and between present and future generations, dealing with such concerns as resource use, over-consumption and poverty, human rights, and access to services, as appropriate. b) consider the ecological conditions on which life Intergenerational depends c) consider economic development and other, non- component market activities that contribute to human/social well-being.
- 20. DfE GC Coding the principles CH RA GE NS EC CE Be Ba IT H IF A S BELLAGIO #3: from UN, Focus on Assessment of progress toward sustainability original text: “ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS: a) consider equity and disparity within the current population and between present and future generations, dealing with such concerns as resource use, over-consumption and poverty, human rights, and access to services, as appropriate. b) consider the ecological conditions on which life Democracy / social depends c) consider economic development and other, non- equity / justice / human market activities that contribute to human/social rights well-being.
- 21. Coding the principles DfE GC CH RA GE NS EC CE Be Ba IT H IF A S BELLAGIO #3: from UN, Focus on Assessment of progress toward sustainability original text: “ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS: a) consider equity and disparity within the current population and between present and future generations, dealing with such concerns as resource use, over-consumption and poverty, human rights, and access to services, as appropriate. b) consider the ecological conditions on which life Eliminate poverty depends c) consider economic development and other, non- market activities that contribute to human/social well-being.
- 22. Coding the principles DfE GC CH RA GE NS EC CE Be Ba IT H IF A S BELLAGIO #3: from UN, Focus on Assessment of progress toward sustainability original text: “ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS: a) consider equity and disparity within the current population and between present and future generations, dealing with such concerns as resource use, over-consumption and poverty, human rights, and access to services, as appropriate. b) consider the ecological conditions on which life Economic viability depends c) consider economic development and other, non- market activities that contribute to human/social well-being.
- 23. CH DfE GC GE RA S A Be EC H CE IF 160 principles NS IT Ba Organizing themes 59 unique codes
- 24. DfE GC Organizing themes CH RA GE NS EC CE Be Ba IT H IF A S 59 unique codes organized into six “themes” 160 principles
- 25. Organizing themes DfE GC CH RA GE NS EC CE Be Ba IT H IF A S Traditional Environmental Sustainability Goals — safety / toxicity / health — eliminate, minimize, manage waste — (design for) energy-efficient transportation, distribution — (design for) energy efficiency and conservation — use of renewable feedstocks and resources (non energy) — pollution prevention — use renewable / natural energy flows — appropriate use rates (e.g., for assimilation, regeneration, development of options)
- 26. Organizing themes DfE GC CH RA GE NS EC CE Be Ba IT H IF A S Specific Things to Protect/ Improve — resource conservation — protection of biosphere / ecological systems — protection of human welfare, basic human needs, quality of life — protection of specific environmental features — environmental improvement — water resources protection
- 27. Organizing themes DfE GC CH RA GE NS EC CE Be Ba IT H IF A S Ethics and Guiding Beliefs — intergenerational equity — personal educational values — right of co-existence (human and eco-) and co-respect — deontological principles of the engineering profession — personal ethical responsibility/ies — spiritual importance — precautionary principle — interdependence (ecological and human) — honesty of practice – alignment of principle and action
- 28. Organizing themes DfE GC CH RA GE NS EC CE Be Ba IT H IF A S Social and Societal Aspects — democracy, social equity, justice, human rights — clear monitoring, reporting, sharing of information — stakeholder engagement — open communication — cultural and local awareness — elimination of poverty — physical spaces for social diversity — design for open space, public space — enhance formal education — non-violence and peace — globalization awareness — interaction of engineering, society — participation in policy-making
- 29. Organizing themes DfE GC CH RA GE NS EC CE Be Ba IT H IF A S Engineering Design Criteria — holistic integration and design — economy of transition of feedstock to product — design for end-of-life, recyclability, degradation, and/or disassembly — large scale, longterm interconnected — long-term value, durability, reusability, and/or repairability — life-cycle thinking — innovation / major conceptual shift — design for modularity, flexibility — design for integration — consequences of design on use — risk reduction — balanced solutions — effective problem definition — worth using limited time, resources
- 30. Organizing themes DfE GC CH RA GE NS EC CE Be Ba IT H IF A S Business Perspectives and values — economic viability — effective management, planning, and implementation — defined goals and objectives — appreciation of limitations — constant improvement — management responsibility — reframe and monetize pollution responsibility — triple bottom line — redesign of commerce system
- 31. Analyzing themes DfE GC CH RA GE NS EC CE Be Ba IT H IF A S Traditional Environmental Specifics to Protect/ Improve Ethics/Beliefs Social/Societal Engineering Design Business Perspectives
- 32. Perspectives of principleslists Engineering and Technical Governmental Industrial Educational Traditional Environmental Specifics to Protect/ Improve Ethics/Beliefs Social/Societal Engineering Design Business Perspectives
- 33. Perspectives of principleslists Engineering and Technical Governmental Industrial Educational Traditional Environmental Specifics to Protect/ Improve Ethics/Beliefs Social/Societal Engineering Design Business Perspectives
- 34. Sustainability engineering courses • Search of publicly available catalog language for sustain* in the course title or description. • 36 Universities in the US – large, top-ranked, NSF support in sust. – about 35% of all US Engr. undergrads • 174 courses identified
- 35. Characteristics of self-identified sustainabilityengineering courses DISCIPLINES LEVEL Civil and Environmental (38) Civil (27) Undergraduate (102) Engineering, no discipline (24) Mechanical (22) Materials (13) Environmental (12) Dual level (37) Chemical (9) Electrical (9) Biological (7) Graduate (48) Other, fewer than 5 each: Architectural, EPP, Tech., Aero., Agr., Energy, Ceramics, Engr. Mgmt., Industrial, Nuclear
- 36. Principles themes incourse descriptions THEMES IN TEN OR MORE (OF 174) COURSES: Use of renewable / natural energy flows Pollution Prevention (Design for) energy efficiency and conservation Eliminate, minimize, manage waste Water resources protection Resource conservation most least common Participation in policy-making more than 10 courses Interaction of engineering and society 3-9 courses Life-cycle thinking Economic viability
- 37. Thank you. Thispresentation is based on work supported by an NSF IEECI grant (#0935066). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions, or recommendations expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
- 38. Comparison to broader themes of sustainability DfE GC CH RA GE NS EC CE Be Ba IT H IF A S Edwards’s “Seven Common Themes” 1. Stewardship 2. Respect for Limits 3. Interdependence 4. Economic Restructuring 5. Fair Distribution 6. Intergenerational Perspective 7. Nature as Model and Teacher From Andres R. Edwards (2005), The Sustainability Revolution: Portrait of a Paradigm Shift, New Society Publishers.
- 39. Coding the principles DfE GC CH RA GE NS EC CE Be Ba IT H IF A S DESIGN for ENVIRONMENT #4: from UN Environment Programme and CNRC original text: “Optimize production • choose alternate production processes • fewer production steps • lower/cleaner production energy • less production waste • fewer/cleaner production consumables” codes: (Design for) energy efficiency and conservation c Eliminate / minimize / manage waste o d Economy of transition of feedstock to product e s
- 40. Coding the principles DfE GC CH RA GE NS EC CE Be Ba IT H IF A S Eliminate / minimize / manage waste GC1; GE2: “It is better to prevent waste than to treat or clean up waste…” IF1: “Eliminate all forms of waste in every area of business…” Economy of transition from feedstock to product GC8: “Unnecessary derivitization …should be minimized or avoided…” GE6: “Embedded entropy and complexity must be viewed as an investment when making design choices…”