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Engaging Students in an Integrated Solid Waste
Management Program at a Higher Education Institution
Presenter: Daniela SanguinoAuthors: Mariana Ruiz Adriana Acevedo
A new approach to include environmental education among engineering students.
Focusing on a specific area of sustainability: Solid Waste Management.
Based on a series of activities to be completed by students in different semesters of the undergraduate curricula, engineering majors.
Sustainability
Human and ecological health, social justice, secure livelihoods, and a better world for all generations.
Why Solid Waste Management?
(Mexico) Studies on waste management:U. Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)U. Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM)U. Autónoma de Baja California (UABC)
Studies conclude: Recyclable materials represent more than
60% of the total waste generated.
Why Engineering Students?
Sustainability as a basic competence for engineers.
80% product-related environmental effects: determined during product design phase, job of engineers.
Why this approach?
“Sustainable development should be integrated in the engineering
courses contents, rather than teaching it as a separate course.”
It’s a Win-Win situation
Main barriers:Abstract or too broad topicLack of synergy among sciences
( because of curricula design)
Students should be immersed in focused and regionalized sustainability projects in order to promote a meaningful and results-oriented experience.
Major Advantage of the Approach:
a) Doesn’t end up as a collection of independent environmental
experiences.
b) Contributes from different perspectives and with diverse engineering techniques, to the
solution of a single sustainability issue.
Our Approach
IBERO & Solid Waste Management Program
- Recycling process
- Vermicomposting
Main Objectives
Include environmental topics within different engineering courses.
Teach engineering concepts with a hands-on approach through real-life applications and projects.
Reduce solid waste generated on campus.
First Step The lead researcher of SWMP &
professors lecturing the target courses designed the experience.
Define:Activity
Individual or work teamsResults expectedGrading criteria
ActivitiesSemest
erStuden
tsDuration
Physicochemical Analyses
8th 10 2 months
Mechanical Design 4th 18 All
semester
Waste quantification and characterization
8th 13 2 sessions
Environmental Impact Analysis
5th 60 4 sessions
Application of Engineering Methods
3rd 45All
semester
Physicochemical Analyses
Students : Chemical Engineering
Physicochemical analysis of compost produced on campus
Mechanical DesignStudents: Mechanical EngineeringDesign of a food waste shredder
Waste quantification and characterization
Students : Industrial Engineering
Design sampling process
Evaluate recycling streams
Environmental Impact AnalysisStudents in “Environmental Impact”
course Studies on waste generation,
handling, recycling, and composting systems
Application of Engineering MethodsStudents: Industrial engineering Analysis of the on-site recycling
processStudy work and time
Students Feedback
“The knowledge and abilities you get from all courses of Industrial Engineering can be applied all together in a project like this (…)”
Industrial E. student: “I think that the vermicomposting recycling process can be a good business in an industrial level (…).”
“I definitely support this kind of projects because of their philosophical basis, creating a sustainable world.”
SUGGESTIONS
Chose a case study that reflects the student’s reality and daily life.
Consider the engineering aspects of the case.
Think green.Join forces.Be time and effort realistic Plan project objectives and
grading criteria.
CONCLUSIONS
We need to find new educational
strategies oriented to sustainability and environmental awareness.
Include courses (or experiences) related to sustainability in engineering curricula.