
Established in Spring 2025 based on similar courses at UIUC (Dr. Jeremy Guest) and UK (Dr. Diana Byrne).
Taught each Spring as a dual-listed graduate/undergraduate course.
Course description: Sustainability in engineering is critical for addressing the complex challenges of the 21st century, including climate change, resource depletion, and environmental degradation. Engineers have a unique opportunity—and responsibility—to design systems, infrastructure, and technologies that meet societal needs while minimizing ecological impacts and promoting long-term resilience. By integrating sustainability principles into engineering practice, we can create innovative solutions that balance environmental, social, and economic considerations, ensuring a better quality of life for current and future generations. This course will provide foundational understanding of sustainability and how it can be incorporated into engineering designs. Through hands-on activities and an overarching design project, students will explore sustainability tools and frameworks that can be applied to future engineering projects. The ultimate goal is for students to leave this course as advocates for sustainability in engineering design, equipped with the skills to identify and recommend sustainable practices in their future careers.