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The objective of this module, specially designed for the Minors programme in Environmental Engineering, is to introduce some of the main principles of environmental systems, chemistry and biology in relation to environmental engineering, as well as potential applications for a career in the field. Students will learn the basics of environmental sciences and the methods to analyse and manage environmental problems. Practical skills such as air and water quality assessment and a site visit to a relevant project will also take place throughout the course, along with reviews of case studies, videos and guest lectures from industry, in order to learn how theoretical knowledge, as well as a holistic systems approach, can be applied in dealing with specific environmental problems.

Learning Outcomes

• Knowledge of the application of basic engineering principles, as well as biology and chemistry in a multidisciplinary context, for the development of sustainable systems to provide clean air and water, materials, energy and other needs to people around the world, while attempting to minimise the degradation of the natural environment
• Understand and apply the following concepts and topics, which have been classified into categories according to the main subject area as shown below:
• Chemistry: chemical equilibrium, reaction rates (kinetics, balancing of chemical equations (review, dissociation of water, characteristics of solid, liquid and gas phases
• Biology & Ecology: biological processes (i.e. respiration, photosynthesis, taxonomy and criteria used to classify life
• Principles of ecology and relationship to cycles (water, carbon, nitrogen, phosphate, etc.) Fundamentals of earth and atmospheric science, in relation to current issues (i.e. climate change, ozone layer depletion)
• Ecosystems and biodiversity
• Causes and consequences of eutrophication and acid rain.
• Environmental Engineering
• Sustainable development, concepts, and history.
• Environmental contamination, key impacts, and classifications of pollution.
• Ecosystem restoration and engineering
• Main water and air quality parameters: importance for human health and ecosystems.
• Basic techniques for air and water quality monitoring.
• Appropriate and ‘green’ technologies for development; barriers for adoption in varying cultural contexts Design of a sustainable integrated ‘solution’ for a developing country (in line with the EWB-Challenge).