Relevance of Sustainability Concepts in Science and Engineering Education

Sustainability has become an important topic for curricular discussions at many universities. The current generation of students has been generally recognized as the most environmentally conscious group since the ecology movements of the 1960s and 70s. The challenges of climate change, diminished fresh water availability, and scarcity of material resources are also increasing expectations by industry that students become knowledgeable about environmental sustainability. The breadth of educational approaches developed at universities to address sustainability in science and engineering courses has been impressive. Common curricular elements have emerged, such as discussions of minimization of environmental footprints, reduction of resource demands, incorporation of life cycle analyses, and interactions with societal structures. At the University of Arizona, the formation of a new ?Practice School for Sustainability? seeks to further emphasize the relevancy of sustainability to industrial applications. This focused approach involves direct participation by businesses, government agencies, and campus sustainability programs to create practical projects having a comprehensive interdisciplinary perspective.