scholarly journals Learning Sustainable Design through Service

2006 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Karim Al-Khafaji ◽  
Margaret Catherine Morse
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Service Learning ◽  
Engineering Education ◽  
Social Service ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Sustainable Design ◽  
Learning To Teach ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Academic Setting

Environmental sustainability and sustainable development principles are vital topics that engineering education has largely failed to address. Service-learning, which integrates social service into an academic setting, is an emerging tool that can be leveraged to teach sustainable design to future engineers. We present a model of using service-learning to teach sustainable design based on the experiences of the Stanford chapter of Engineers for a Sustainable World. The model involves the identification of projects and partner organizations, a student led, project-based design course, and internships coordinated with partner organizations. The model has been very successful, although limitations and challenges exist. These are discussed along with future directions for expanding the model.

scholarly journals Engineering Education for Sustainable Development: Evaluation Criteria for Brazilian Context

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 3947 ◽  
Author(s):  
Izabela Simon Rampasso ◽  
Osvaldo L. G. Quelhas ◽  
Rosley Anholon ◽  
Marcio B. Pereira ◽  
Jocimar D. A. Miranda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Active Learning ◽  
Service Learning ◽  
Engineering Education ◽  
Extracurricular Activities ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Evaluation Criteria ◽  
Education For Sustainable Development ◽  
Learning Approaches ◽  
Development Evaluation

Considering the increasing importance of sustainability in future professionals’ education and the role played by engineers in society, this paper aims to analyze the key criteria that should be considered in models to evaluate the insertion level of sustainability into engineering education, considering the Brazilian context. For this, criteria reported in the literature were collected and evaluated by engineering professors. The respondents were asked to classify the criteria as “essential”, “useful, but not essential”, or “not necessary”. Data collected were analyzed through Lawshe’s method. From 15 criteria collected from the literature, 5 were not considered essential to evaluate engineering education for sustainable development (EESD), according to data analysis: C2 (establishment of global partnerships), C4 (encouraging students to volunteer through extracurricular activities), C9 (use of active learning approaches to problem solving to teach aspects related to sustainability), C10 (use of service-learning towards the local community for educational purposes) and C15 (use of sustainability concept in university installations). It was possible to verify that most of these criteria (C2, C4, C10, and C15) were not directly related to engineering curricula, being parallel activities. Regarding C9, active learning approaches can enhance attributes important for students in the context of sustainable development, but they are not goals of EESD. This research contributes to the development of evaluation models for engineering education in the Brazilian context and its findings can also be useful for studies in other countries. No similar study was found in the literature.

Exploring Decision Tradeoffs in Sustainable Design

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher A. Mattson ◽  
Vicky Lofthouse ◽  
Tracy Bhamra
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Multiobjective Optimization ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Sustainable Design ◽  
Social Sustainability ◽  
Optimization Techniques ◽  
Alternative View ◽  
Hypodermic Needle ◽  
Sustainable Engineering

Sustainable design involves three essential areas: economic sustainability, environmental sustainability, and social sustainability. For even the simplest of products, the complexities of these three areas and their tradeoffs cause decision-making transparency to be lost in most practical situations. The existing field of multiobjective optimization offers a natural framework to explore the tradeoffs in the sustainability space (defined by economic, environmental, and social sustainability issues), thus offering both the designer and the decision makers a means of understanding the sustainability tradeoffs. To facilitate this, a decision making approach that capitalizes on the principles and power of multiobjective optimization is presented. This paper concludes that sustainable development can indeed benefit from tradeoff characterization using multiobjective optimization techniques — even when using only basic models of sustainability. Interestingly, the unique characteristics of the three essential sustainable development areas lead to an alternative view of some traditional multiobjective optimization concepts, such as weak Pareto optimality. The sustainable engineering design of a hypodermic needle is presented as a simple hypothetical example for method demonstration and discussion.

Analysis of pre-service teachers’ perception towards the economic, environmental, social and cultural dimensions of Education for Sustainable Development

Think India ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 972-978
Author(s):  
Manisha Jetly ◽  
Dr. Nandita Singh
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Education For Sustainable Development ◽  
Cultural Dimensions ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Depth Study ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Class Room

Education for sustainable development (ESD) enjoys a huge momentum worldwide in which the role of teachers for making sustainable development goals a reality has been recognized significantly. Teachers through their knowledge, attitudes and skills can bring the learning about these concepts to the curriculum and class room interaction and are in a position to influence their students. Therefore it is pertinent, that teachers are sensitised towards these issues, so that they prepare and nurture their students for making appropriate and responsible choices which contribute to a sustainable future. At this juncture it becomes crucial to understand their priorities and awareness level in context of the sustainable development. The present research paper aims to analyse the perception of forty post graduate pre-service teachers of the Chandigarh region, towards ESD through the dimensions of economic sustainability, environmental sustainability, social sustainability and cultural sustainability. For this researchers have adopted qualitative content analysis methodology for an in-depth study of the subjective responses through an open ended question. The findings suggest that most of the respondents associated the perception of ESD strongly with environmental sustainability. It is noted that the pre-service teachers lack a holistic approach towards ESD. On the basis of the findings it is recommended that there is an urgent need of integrating the concept of ESD consciously and conscientiously in India’s teacher education programmes.

Future Directions in International Science Education

1997 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 233-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Holmes
Keyword(s):  
Science Education ◽  
Engineering Education ◽  
Science And Engineering ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
International Dimension ◽  
The World ◽  
Scientists And Engineers ◽  
Science And Engineering Education

The international dimension of science and engineering education is of paramount importance and merits serious consideration of the coherent skill set that is required to allow scientists and engineers more readily to transport themselves and their work to other locations in the world. 

scholarly journals Dominance of Fossil Fuels in Japan’s National Energy Mix and Implications for Environmental Sustainability

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (14) ◽  
pp. 7347
Author(s):  
Tomiwa Sunday Adebayo ◽  
Abraham Ayobamiji Awosusi ◽  
Seun Damola Oladipupo ◽  
Ephraim Bonah Agyekum ◽  
Arunkumar Jayakumar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Natural Gas ◽  
Co2 Emissions ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Least Square ◽  
Kuznets Curve ◽  
Gas Oil ◽  
Energy Mix ◽  
Ordinary Least Square

Despite the drive for increased environmental protection and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), coal, oil, and natural gas use continues to dominate Japan’s energy mix. In light of this issue, this research assessed the position of natural gas, oil, and coal energy use in Japan’s environmental mitigation efforts from the perspective of sustainable development with respect to economic growth between 1965 and 2019. In this regard, the study employs Bayer and Hanck cointegration, fully modified Ordinary Least Square (FMOLS), and dynamic ordinary least square (DOLS) to investigate these interconnections. The empirical findings from this study revealed that the utilization of natural gas, oil, and coal energy reduces the sustainability of the environment with oil consumption having the most significant impact. Furthermore, the study validates the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis in Japan. The outcomes of the Gradual shift causality showed that CO2 emissions can predict economic growth, while oil, coal, and energy consumption can predict CO2 emissions in Japan. Given Japan’s ongoing energy crisis, this innovative analysis provides valuable policy insights to stakeholders and authorities in the nation’s energy sector.

scholarly journals Civic Education for Sustainable Development

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-22
Author(s):  
Bernhard Ohlmeier
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Civic Education ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Education For Sustainable Development ◽  
Sustainable Growth ◽  
Education For Sustainability ◽  
German Development ◽  
Political Dimension ◽  
Economic Productivity

Abstract Education for sustainable development (ESD) often fails to consider the political dimension. To address this gap, this paper focuses on a specific political approach to ESD. The model presented is derived from the four sustainable growth targets of German Development Policy. Instead of relying on a neo-classical or neo-liberal economic paradigm, however, the goals of social justice, environmental sustainability, economic productivity and good governance are interpreted using a sustainability model. This model is anchored in a steady-state economy that has overcome the myth of unlimited material growth and seeks to stay within the limits of the planet's resources. The preconditions of good governance are outlined, and it is described how the state and civil society can contribute to this normative goal. In addition to social, ecological, economic and political components, the presented model for civic education for sustainability considers conflicts between different development components and the need for horizontal and vertical coherence. In conclusion, the paper shows that civic education for sustainability must aim to produce informed and empowered global citizens. Citizens should have the ability to employ their knowledge and skills responsibly through local and global civic involvement while also remaining aware of their own interests. Furthermore, it falls to educational policy makers to create national as well as international organisational structures that facilitate civic ESD.

scholarly journals A Novel and Efficient Metal Oxide Fluoride Absorbent for Drinking Water Safety and Sustainable Development

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 883
Author(s):  
Changjuan Dong ◽  
Xiaomei Wu ◽  
Zhanyi Gao ◽  
Peiling Yang ◽  
Mohd Yawar Ali Khan
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Metal Oxide ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Environmentally Friendly ◽  
Langmuir Model ◽  
Maximum Adsorption Capacity ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Water Safety ◽  
Solution Ph

Inefficient and non-environmentally friendly absorbent production can lead to much resource waste and go against low carbon and sustainable development. A novel and efficient Mg-Fe-Ce (MFC) complex metal oxide absorbent of fluoride ion (F−) removal was proposed for safe, environmentally friendly, and sustainable drinking water management. A series of optimization and preparation processes for the adsorbent and batch experiments (e.g., effects of solution pH, adsorption kinetics, adsorption isotherms, effects of coexisting anions, as well as surface properties tests) were carried out to analyze the characteristics of the adsorbent. The results indicated that optimum removal of F− occurred in a pH range of 4–5.5, and higher adsorption performances also happened under neutral pH conditions. The kinetic data under 10 and 50 mg·g−1 were found to be suitable for the pseudo-second-order adsorption rate model, and the two-site Langmuir model was ideal for adsorption isotherm data as compared to the one-site Langmuir model. According to the two-site Langmuir model, the maximum adsorption capacity calculated at pH 7.0 ± 0.2 was 204 mg·g−1. The adsorption of F− was not affected by the presence of sulfate (SO42−), nitrate (NO3−), and chloride (Cl−), which was suitable for practical applications in drinking water with high F− concentration. The MFC adsorbent has an amorphous structure, and there was an exchange reaction between OH− and F−. The novel MFC adsorbent was proven to have higher efficiency, better economy, and environmental sustainability, and be more environmentally friendly.

Transformation Development and Eco-Environmental Protection of Resource-Exhausted City

2013 ◽  
Vol 340 ◽  
pp. 1045-1049 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shi Xian Sun ◽  
Yao Shun Zhu ◽  
Cun Yu Cai ◽  
Yong Mei Li ◽  
Rui Tao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Natural Disasters ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Transformation Process ◽  
Economic Transformation ◽  
Geological Hazards ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Over Exploitation ◽  
Ecological Construction ◽  
The Relationship

In order to ensure the sustainable development of resource-exhausted cities,with Dongchuan disrict of Kunming as an example, the achievements and problems in the economic transformation, as well the relationship between the geological hazards and mining were analysed,the results showed that Dongchuan has achieved good results in the process of transformation in economy, city transformation, and ecological construction.However, the basic cause of severe natural disasters lie in over-exploitation is ignored for the misunderstanding of the causes of geological disasters.Therefore, the prominent problem in the development of transformation is the insufficient emphasis on eco-environmental protection.Resource-exhausted cities must pay attention to ecological construction in the transformation process for keeping the economic and environmental sustainability.

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