A Course about the Environment for All Engineering Students

Abstract

The course 85-250 Engineering and the Environment began in 2009 and has been delivered to two cohorts of students at the University of Windsor. This course is currently required for sophomore Environmental, Civil, Mechanical and Industrial undergraduates (approximately 180 students), and provides them with environmental awareness in order to achieve the graduate attribute 3.1.9 Impact of Engineering on [Society and] the Environment. In addition, the course curriculum is shaped by two Engineers Canada exam syllabi. The course begins with basic biological concepts of how matter cycles and energy flows in nature, and philosophical concepts in resource allocation/pollution (e.g. tragedy of the commons), and then quantitative elements of dimensions, risk calculation and mass balances are introduced. The latter part of the course examines applications of these principles to two topics of interest to a broad range of engineering disciplines: pollution prevention and energy conversion. Delivery of the course is by traditional lecture format supplemented by weekly tutorials with approximately 50 students each. Tutorial assignments consist of either individual problem solving (quantitative material) or group problem solving (philosophical concepts). Evaluation is through submitted tutorial assignments, clicker questions, exams (two mid-term and one final), an online mini-course, and presentation of a group project. All exams are multiple-choice, with an instant feedback assessment technique used in the mid-terms. Students complete a self-contained online mini course in Occupational Health and Safety, which includes WHMIS training. The textbook is a custom print product which includes chapters extracted from three textbooks supplied by the publisher. Student feedback regarding methods of delivery and evaluation will be presented.