Environmental engineering

Our environment is degrading rapidly and in complex ways. Environmental engineers aim to reduce society's impact on our environment by understanding how the aspects of the environment we interact with behave and how engineering solutions can help. In this unit, we will examine various perspectives on sustainability and their interactions with the general population. From this basis, we will then examine the water cycle, air pollution, waste, energy and climate change.

A major difference between environmental engineering and most other fields of engineering is that we work at the intersection of a dynamic and complex natural environment and the complexities of society. Consequently, a broad range of quantitative numerical skills are required, but also strong independent critical thinking about the problems and the appropriateness of the methods and solutions. In this unit, these skills are developed through a range of mini-projects within each practical class and two on-campus field monitoring practical classes. Some practicals require analysis of environmental data and modelling of the environment while others focus on critically reflecting on and discussing conflicting views and solutions. What all of these practical classes have in common is that they tackle complex environmental problems with no straightforward answers. In working through these problems with the lecturers, you will have the opportunity to enhance your critical thinking and communication skills through hands-on quantitative and qualitative activities, which will provide long-term professional benefits.