How we teach Sustainable Development

Professor Jeff Hulse

University of Newcastle

The Newcastle Experience

• Background

• Benchmarking

• Lectures

• Questionairres

• Case Studies

• Feedback

Background

• Royal Academy of Engineering

• Visiting Professors Scheme

• Newcastle University

• Jeff Hulse…..

• Chemical Engineer

• 40 years in Chemical Industry

• Former Head of Environment Health &Safety…..BASF.

Benchmarking

• Test student understanding

• 1st year undergraduates (Chem.Eng)

• M.Sc &M.Eng Level

• Other subjects

• Glossary of terms

• Define priorities

QUESTIONAIRRE 1.

• We need your help…..to improve in future.– First lecture.– 1.Key Sustainability Issues– 2.What are we doing about it?– 3.Balancing Economic,Environment and Social

issues.(The Triangle Model)

QUESTIONAIRRE 2.

• Second lecture…..– 1.Risk Communication

• Perception is Reality

• Trust and Credibility

• Good Communication Skills

– 2.Media and Community Relations• Teesside Examples

QUESTIONAIRRE 3.

• Third Lecture…– 1.Stakeholder Analysis

– 2.Product Stewardship

– 3.Ethical Responsibilities

CASE STUDIES

• Household Detergent(Product)

• Byker Incinerator(Process)

• Waste Water

• Refrigeration

• Transportation

• Bran Sands(with Surrey)

CASE STUDIES

• Case studies are…..– Reality into the course

– describes an actual situation

– contains problems

– seen from the decision maker

– a range of alternatives

– exercise skills in decision making.

• Case study is not…..– A well defined

problem

– with a specific solution

– has only one answer or

– is how to handle a situation or

– best practice or

– a case history

The Byker Incinerator

A CASE STUDY IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Brief History Part 1

• 1979 Opens cost £4m• 1997 City Council

approves Waste Mgt Plan

• 1998 Complaints from Residents about odours and costs

• 1999 RDF Closed switch to coal

• Aug 1999 New Waste Contract “Discovered”

• Later 1999 Allotment Ash fiasco

• Jan 2000 Public outcry!

Brief History Part 2

• NCC sets up working groups.

• Study of “Ash”• Apr 2000 First

meeting of Groups• CAIR formed• Health Auth issues

warning….

• Removal of ash est £70k

• Env Agency enquiry• Sub groups formed• Sept 2000 EA warns

of possible prosecution

• Byker plant idle 97% to Landfill.

WORKSHOP GROUPS

• RED 1.Newcastle City Council

• PURPLE 2.Incinerator Operating Company

• YELLOW 3.Local Residents

• GREEN 4.Environmentalists

• BLUE 5.Local Newspaper.– Total of 10 Groups(Two of each)

INSTRUCTIONS• General:• Each group responsible for organising itself.

– Choice of method for making decisions– Allocation of specific tasks within the group– Decide group stratagy/tactics,if additional

information is required and from what source – Decide what to do if it uncovers evidence in

conflict.– Keep minutes of group meetings(for final report)

INSTRUCTIONS

• Step 1.between 15th and 22nd Nov……

– Read the workshop literature

– Research the topic

– Meet for preliminary discussions(as a Group)

Report and Assessment• Write a report inc….by....

• The minutes of your meetings

• A short outline of your groups position(1 side of A4).All groups except Local Newspaper who do a Press Release.

• An assessment of the role they played in the workshop viz.Methods and principles of Sustainable Development.A critical appraisal of how the groups case and proposed actions leads to a more sustainable solution.

ASSESSMENT

1.The presentations

2.The videos

3.The report.

FEEDBACK

SUSTAINABLE ENGINEERING MODULE

Learning Outcomes

• Waste Mgt Options• Stakeholders• Decision making• Working in a Group• Presentation• Trust&Credibility• Communication• Balance Ec/Env/Soc

SUSTAINABLEDEVELOPMENT

ECONOMIC

ENVIRONMENT SOCIAL

Phase 2 plan…..

• Strand 1.– Add value to Teaching Materials by developing

a web-based SE portal to include……• Teaching materials and Case Studies

• Course outlines for customised syllabuses

• Examples of best practice

• Quizzes on Sustainable Engineering

• Self-assessment benchmarking

Phase 2 plan…...

• Strand 2.– Promotion of Sustainable Engineering thru’

• Engagement of other departments

• Use Case Study and Best Practice examples

• Support existing networks in VP scheme

• Give public presentations to promote Sustainable Engineering

• Encourage and involve young researchers

Targets

• Web-enabled Case Studies,Teaching materials and information.

• Distance learning Case Study packages.

• Additional Case Study material.

• Transfer of material to other departments.

• Network of SE practitioners

• Promotional public presentations

• Transfer of expertise.