Practical skills and techniques for the transition to a sustainable future, a case study for engineering education
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Published Version
Date
2010-07
Authors
Dwyer, Brian
Byrne, Edmond P.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
International Symposium for Engineering Education
Published Version
Abstract
This paper seeks to assess the gap between the visions of sustainable
engineering practice with its current reality. A case study involving Energetics Pty. Ltd., a
leading Australian multi-disciplinary consultancy specialized in engaging public and
private organizations in the development of their responses to climate change and
sustainability was conducted based on a staff questionnaire developed following a review
of current literature and initiatives on sustainability globally.
The results of the survey indicate that sustainability in engineering practice is still focused
on the technical and financial impacts of perceived sustainable solutions. The broader
aspects that have been identified as necessary have yet to be achieved in education or
practice. The principle reason for this appears to lie in the perception engineers have of
their practice and the ability of engineers to communicate effectively with their clients.
These have combined to make regulation one of the principal drivers in environmental
and sustainability engineering. A sustainability informed ethics paradigm needs to be
brought more to the fore to allow engineers to engage with their clients in a more
effective manner. Engineers do have the opportunity to be agents of change, but only
when they envisage a broader societal role and context for engineering and can
communicate effectively with the decision makers within their client organisations.
Description
Keywords
Sustainability , Engineering education
Citation
DWYER, B. & BYRNE, E. P. 2010. Practical skills and techniques for the transition to a sustainable future, a case study for engineering education. In: ISEE (International Symposium for Engineering Education), 3rd International Symposium for Engineering Education ISEE2010, Educating Engineers for a Changing World - Leading transformation from an unsustainable global society. University College Cork, Ireland 30 Jun - 2 Jul 2010.