Synopsis:Synopsis:Workshop on Frontiers in Workshop on Frontiers in

Environmental Engineering EducationEnvironmental Engineering Education

James (Chip ) KilduffJames (Chip ) KilduffRensselaer Polytechnic InstituteRensselaer Polytechnic Institute

AEESP Meeting, Blacksburg VAAEESP Meeting, Blacksburg VA

July 28-Aug 1, 2007July 28-Aug 1, 2007

AcknowledgmentsAcknowledgments SponsorsSponsors

NSF, AEESP, AAEE, ASU (SoE, John NSF, AEESP, AAEE, ASU (SoE, John Crittenden)Crittenden)

Planning CommitteePlanning Committee Michael Aitken, Patrick Brezonik (ex-officio), Michael Aitken, Patrick Brezonik (ex-officio),

Michael Butkus, Chip Kilduff, Nicholas Michael Butkus, Chip Kilduff, Nicholas Clesceri, Raymond Hozalski, Loring Nies, Clesceri, Raymond Hozalski, Loring Nies, Susan PowersSusan Powers

ParticipantsParticipants Arizona State University, Tempe, AZArizona State University, Tempe, AZ

January 8-10, 2007January 8-10, 2007 60 Attendees60 Attendees AcademiaAcademia

Range of sizes and missions Range of sizes and missions Government (NSF, EPA)Government (NSF, EPA) Professional societies (AAEE, ASEE, NSPE, Professional societies (AAEE, ASEE, NSPE,

ASCE, AEESP)ASCE, AEESP) Water and wastewater utilitiesWater and wastewater utilities Consulting engineers Consulting engineers

Workshop ObjectivesWorkshop Objectives Identify “Body of Knowledge” outcomesIdentify “Body of Knowledge” outcomes Identify ways to transform curriculaIdentify ways to transform curricula

In response to Body of KnowledgeIn response to Body of Knowledge In response to new science and technologyIn response to new science and technology To bridge environmental literacy gapTo bridge environmental literacy gap To improve recruitmentTo improve recruitment

Identify ways to interact with practicing Identify ways to interact with practicing engineersengineers As input to curriculum changeAs input to curriculum change As participants in the educational processAs participants in the educational process As “customers”As “customers”

Body of Knowledge (e.g., ASCE)Body of Knowledge (e.g., ASCE) Alternative: CompetenciesAlternative: Competencies

KnowledgeKnowledge SkillsSkills Ways of thinkingWays of thinking AttitudesAttitudes ExperienceExperience Judgment Judgment CreativityCreativity

May be taught, encouraged, nurtured, illustrated May be taught, encouraged, nurtured, illustrated by example, etc.by example, etc.

NomenclatureNomenclature

Knowledge

UnderstandingApplication

AnalysisSynthesis

Evaluation

Purpose of BOK - ASCEPurpose of BOK - ASCE ASCE recognizes that changes in how (Civil)

engineering is practiced must occur. That change is necessitated by: Globalization; sustainability; emerging technology;

increased complexity, interdisciplinarity Development of an “aspirational” global vision Develop policies to move toward realizing this vision

ASCE Policy 465: MS degree or equivalent is a prerequisite for licensure and professional practice

Implement such policies in part by defining the BOK, Implement such policies in part by defining the BOK, which defines what is required which defines what is required to enter the practice of civil engineering at the professional level (licensure) Combines education and experience Combines education and experience

ASCE VisionASCE Vision Entrusted by society to create a sustainable world and

enhance the global quality of life, civil engineers serve competently, collaboratively, and ethically as master:

planners, designers, constructors, and operators of society’s economic and social engine, the built environment;

stewards of the natural environment and its resources;

innovators and integrators of ideas and technology across the public, private, and academic sectors;

managers of risk and uncertainty caused by natural events, accidents, and other threats; and

leaders in discussions and decisions shaping public environmental and infrastructure policy.

Purpose of BOKPurpose of BOK Provide a strong foundation for further Provide a strong foundation for further

developmentdevelopment A guide for curriculum development and reformA guide for curriculum development and reform Create strong identityCreate strong identity

A guide for employers, future students, societyA guide for employers, future students, society Define needs for Define needs for

BS degreeBS degree LicensureLicensure Lifelong learningLifelong learning

A mechanism to call for specific attributes, e.g., A mechanism to call for specific attributes, e.g., creativity and innovationcreativity and innovation

Enhance recruitmentEnhance recruitment

Potential PitfallsPotential Pitfalls Is a BOK really necessary?Is a BOK really necessary? Should a more in depth discussion of who we are Should a more in depth discussion of who we are

and where we are going precede BOK and where we are going precede BOK development?development?

Much progress has been made in the absence of Much progress has been made in the absence of an explicit BOK; it should not move us backwardsan explicit BOK; it should not move us backwards

Resource constraintsResource constraints FacultyFaculty Faculty workloadFaculty workload Support for new coursesSupport for new courses New evaluation criteriaNew evaluation criteria

Perceived risk of constraining faculty and program Perceived risk of constraining faculty and program creativity, independence of too prescriptivecreativity, independence of too prescriptive

Uniqueness of EnvEngUniqueness of EnvEng Serve public welfare, health, and safety directlyServe public welfare, health, and safety directly Objectives: human and ecosystem healthObjectives: human and ecosystem health

Prevention, improvement, remediation Prevention, improvement, remediation Systems perspectives – interactions and Systems perspectives – interactions and

interfacesinterfaces Engineered systemEngineered system Natural systems processesNatural systems processes Human systems and processesHuman systems and processes

Multi-media and their interfaces & interactionsMulti-media and their interfaces & interactions Complex multi-scale systemsComplex multi-scale systems Global perspectiveGlobal perspective Environmental ethics Environmental ethics Risk: environmental, reliabilityRisk: environmental, reliability

““Systems of systems”Systems of systems”

BOK AttributesBOK Attributes Reflect our responsibility to address grand societal Reflect our responsibility to address grand societal

challenges for compelling intellectual and challenges for compelling intellectual and practical reasonspractical reasons

Prepare students for an unknown futurePrepare students for an unknown future Provide strong fundamentalsProvide strong fundamentals Promote ability to apply principles to new Promote ability to apply principles to new

problemsproblems Promote ability to exploit new opportunitiesPromote ability to exploit new opportunities

Must build on a body of knowledge appropriate for Must build on a body of knowledge appropriate for all engineersall engineers

May be achieved through some combination of BS May be achieved through some combination of BS degree, advanced degrees, experience, life-long degree, advanced degrees, experience, life-long learninglearning

FlexibilityFlexibility Allow for multiple pathways to achieve BOK Allow for multiple pathways to achieve BOK BOK should allow for future growth in the field in BOK should allow for future growth in the field in

ways that we can not imagine at this timeways that we can not imagine at this time Promote expansion into new areasPromote expansion into new areas

BOK should provide a good foundation allowing BOK should provide a good foundation allowing career flexibility outside the fieldcareer flexibility outside the field

Breadth vs DepthBreadth vs Depth Provide an appropriate balance between breadth Provide an appropriate balance between breadth

and depthand depth In science, among engineering disciplines, and In science, among engineering disciplines, and

within environmental engineeringwithin environmental engineering To enable determination of impacts of solutions To enable determination of impacts of solutions

to engineering problems in a variety of domains to engineering problems in a variety of domains Economy, public livelihood, human health, Economy, public livelihood, human health,

ecosystems, and function of the earth’s life ecosystems, and function of the earth’s life support systemssupport systems

Professional PracticeProfessional Practice BOK should address competencies beyond those BOK should address competencies beyond those

required to enter practice or pass PE examrequired to enter practice or pass PE exam Professional practice one of but not the only Professional practice one of but not the only

“next step” in professional development“next step” in professional development

Sustainability Sustainability FrameworkFramework

Goods & ServicesGoods & ServicesImpactsImpacts

Human (Social) SystemHuman (Social) System

Natural (Eco) SystemNatural (Eco) System

Culture/behaviorPolicies, politics, lawIndustry/agricultureEconomicsHistorical context

AtmosphereHydrosphereLithosphere Biosphere

Resource Interactions and Resource Interactions and FeedbackFeedback

Natural CapitalNatural CapitalSocial CapitalSocial Capital

Technological CapitalTechnological Capital

Financial CapitalFinancial Capital

EconomicsEconomics

Natural Sciences(Environmental Science)

Social Sciences & Humanities(Environmental Studies)

Engineering & Applied Sciences(Environmental Engineering)

Will Focht, Oklahoma State University

Systems Perspective and Analysis

Human SystemsCulture/behaviorPolicies, politics, lawIndustry/agricultureEconomicsHistorical context

Natural SystemsAtmosphereHydrosphereLithosphereBiosphereTechnical

Environmental Engineering

Systems

Basic Math/Science• Biology/Ecology• Chemistry• Physics• Earth Science• Stats/prob

impacts

uses

Basic Engrg. Science• Mass/energy/momentum• Fluid mechanics• Thermodynamics• Computation

Tools• Fate and transport• Risk / exposure• Impacts/benefits analysis• Industrial ecology• Env. Chemistry

Skills

communication

experimentation

computation

teamwork

project mgmt

information mgmt

Ways of Thinking

systems thinking

problem solving

design

critical analysis

critical evaluation

Attitudes

role of technology in society

ethics

respect for diversity

respect for democratic

public service

professional service

sustainability

Beyond the FoundationBeyond the Foundation

Importance of CreativityImportance of Creativity

Tough Choices or Tough TimesTough Choices or Tough Times, NCEE Commission on , NCEE Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce the Skills of the American Workforce

Education vs. TrainingEducation vs. Training Training Training How to do How to do

Develop contextual skill for enhancing Develop contextual skill for enhancing immediate immediate productivityproductivity

Education Education How to think and create How to think and create Develop conceptual skill for thinking beyond Develop conceptual skill for thinking beyond

the prevailing paradigmthe prevailing paradigm

Courtesy of Dom Grasso, J. Bordogna, NSF

Importance of a University Importance of a University EducationEducation

Provides basis for creativityProvides basis for creativity Introduces students toIntroduces students to

Major kinds of knowledge Major kinds of knowledge Major forms of inquiry to develop new knowledge Major forms of inquiry to develop new knowledge Different means of analysisDifferent means of analysis

Provides intellectual powerProvides intellectual power Critical thinkingCritical thinking Reasoned judgmentReasoned judgment Ability to engage in the great debates that define Ability to engage in the great debates that define

our timesour times Necessary for analysis and solution of complex Necessary for analysis and solution of complex

problemsproblems

ConclusionsConclusions

Change drivers include globalization; sustainability; emerging technology; increased complexity, interdisciplinarity

BOK should Provide a sustainability framework Promote systems thinking Promote creativity Provide a strong technical background

while recognizing the importance of a university education