MTE4593 Materials and sustainability
Faculty of Engineering
MTE4593 Materials and sustainability is a level 4, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Engineering, offered in 2025 in Semester 2 at Clayton. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2025
- Semester 2
- Clayton
- Assessment
- Exam 20%
- and 2 other tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2025 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before MTE4593
Prohibitions
You can't enrol if you have passed any of these.
After MTE4593
No unit lists MTE4593 as a prerequisite in the 2025 handbook.
Enrolment rules
PREREQUISITE: Completion of 96 credit points in engineering study
Equivalent units
The same content under another code. Only one of them counts.
Overview
This unit provides an introduction to the political, social and environmental background to materials usage. Major technologies relating to the production, sustainable use and recycling of metals, plastics, glass, electronics, paper and ceramic materials are discussed. Various options involving materials substitution, reclamation, energy recovery and disposal are critically evaluated. The unit considers the economics of materials production, as well as 'cradle-to-grave' analyses of materials, including products and byproducts of the nuclear fuel cycle. In particular, it looks at various life-cycle analysis techniques. We will examine the impact of population, affluence and technology changes on population and ecological footprints with the arrival of the current "Anthropocene Era".
Offerings in 2025
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Second semester | Clayton | On campus |
Assessment
- Weekly tasksExerciseThreshold hurdle15%
- AssignmentsWrittenThreshold hurdle65%
- Final assessmentExaminationThreshold hurdle20%
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Interpret the economic, social and political aspects of materials flow.
- 2
Appraise an ecosystem approach to materials usage.
- 3
Undertake life-cycle analysis of products or services.
- 4
Describe technical knowledge in the main areas of materials extraction, use and recycling.
Workload and teaching
- Workshops24 hours
- Practical activities24 hours
- Teaching approachActive learning
The minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of 3-6 hours of scheduled learning activities and 6-9 hours of independent study per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher-directed learning, peer-directed learning and online engagement. Independent study may include associated readings, assessment and preparation for scheduled activities.
Where it fits
MTE4593 is part of 3 areas of study in the 2025 handbook.
Contacts
- Unit Coordinators
- Associate Professor Sebastian Thomas
- Chief Examiners
- Associate Professor Sebastian Thomas
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for MTE4593?
MTE4593 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
When is MTE4593 offered?
In 2025, MTE4593 runs in Semester 2 at Clayton.
How much work is MTE4593?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does MTE4593 have an exam?
Yes. The exam is worth 20% of the final mark, alongside 2 other tasks.
Which majors and minors include MTE4593?
MTE4593 is part of Environmental engineering, Materials engineering and Sustainable engineering.