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, offered in 2020 in Semester 1 at Clayton. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2020
- Semester 1
- Clayton
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2020 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
Reviews
No reviews yetNo reviews yet. Be the first to review MTE5193.
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 2020
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| First semester | Clayton | On campus |
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 scheduled learning activities and independent study. Independent study may include associated readings, assessment and preparation for scheduled activities. A unit requires on average three hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher-directed learning, peer-directed learning and online engagement.
Contacts
- Unit Coordinators
- Professor Terence Turney
- Chief Examiners
- Professor Neil Cameron
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for MTE5193?
MTE5193 has no prerequisites.
When is MTE5193 offered?
In 2020, MTE5193 runs in Semester 1 at Clayton.
How much work is MTE5193?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.