Work in progress — Sustainability and senior design at the University of San Diego

Abstract

Engineering senior design courses fill a critically important role in the curriculum forming a bridge between school and the workplace. Although sustainability is one of ABET's considerations for design, it is often overlooked in student projects. In 2010-2011, the instructors for the senior design sequence in electrical engineering (EE) at the University of San Diego (USD) chose sustainability as a theme. The USD Director of Sustainability worked with the instructors to suggest some projects, students suggested others, and industry input was obtained. Mechanical engineering (ME) students were invited to participate on projects where their skills were beneficial. Projects included Carpool Companion (EE only), Smart Shower (EE only), Engineering a Brighter Sudan (EE/ME), Cycle to Sustain (EE/ME), and TOCOM: An Energy Management Laboratory (EE/ME). Sustainability also became a theme for the instructors as they considered logistics of peer review, evaluation of reports, and distribution of class materials. As students better understood the concept of sustainability, they suggested that more should be done electronically. This work-in-progress discusses the logistics and experiences of incorporating sustainability into a senior design course. This information should be helpful to other engineering instructors aiming to incorporate sustainability into their senior design courses.