MTE5193 Materials and sustainability
Faculty of Engineering
MTE5193 Materials and sustainability is a level 5, 6-credit-point, postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Engineering. It isn't offered in 2027. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2027
- Not offered
- Assessment
- Exam 20%
- and 2 other tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
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Requisites
Before MTE5193
Prohibitions
You can't enrol if you have passed any of these.
After MTE5193
No unit lists MTE5193 as a prerequisite in the 2027 handbook.
Enrolment rules
You must be currently enrolled in a master’s course in engineering or related STEM and in a related discipline. The unit assumes that you have the necessary foundational knowledge.
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 2027
The 2027 handbook lists no offerings for MTE5193.
Assessment
- Weekly tasksExerciseThreshold hurdle15%
- AssignmentsWrittenThreshold hurdle65%
- Final assessmentExamination20%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
critically assess the economic, social and political aspects of materials flow
- 2
appraise an ecosystem approach to materials usage
- 3
undertake and critique a life-cycle analysis of products or services
- 4
describe and synthesise technical knowledge in the main areas of materials extraction, use and recycling.
Workload and teaching
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.
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for MTE5193?
MTE5193 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
When is MTE5193 offered?
MTE5193 has no offerings listed in the 2027 handbook.
How much work is MTE5193?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does MTE5193 have an exam?
Yes. The exam is worth 20% of the final mark, alongside 2 other tasks.