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.