Postgraduate Course: Industrial Ecology (MSc) (PGEE11176)
Course Outline
| School | School of Engineering |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | Industrial ecology is a transdisciplinary perspective that seeks to understand how the environment, cultural systems, and the economy can be efficiently managed and improved in order to approach and maintain sustainability.
This is an introductory course into industrial ecology. Its chief aims are to:
1. Introduce industrial ecology, providing students with a foundation for deeper understanding and application of its key concepts and various analytical approaches;
2. Inspire students to think critically about sustainability issues using a systems perspective, beyond traditional disciplinary boundaries;
3. Develop skills in qualitative and quantitative industrial ecology concepts and methods.
Students who take this course must be self-motivated and diligently engage in studying the assigned readings ahead of lectures, workshops, and seminars/tutorials. Students enrolling in this course should also be ready to critically reflect on their understanding of sustainability and sustainable engineering. |
| Course description |
Industrial Ecology (MSc) consists of:
20 hours of lectures (2 hours/week for 10 weeks)
20 hours of workshops (2 x 1 hour/week for 10 weeks)
Lectures:
Week 1. Introduction to industrial ecology
Week 2. Life cycle assessment, goal and scope
Week 3. Life cycle inventory
Week 4. Life cycle impact assessment
Week 5. Life cycle assessment, interpretation
Week 6. Life cycle assessment, other topics
Week 7. Material flow analysis
Week 8. Industrial symbiosis
Week 9. Resources
Week 10. Dynamic material flow analysis
Workshops:
Week 1. Quantitative background
Week 2. Life cycle assessment, goal and scope
Week 3. Life cycle inventory
Week 4. Life cycle impact assessment
Week 5. Life cycle assessment, interpretation
Week 6. Life cycle assessment, other topics
Week 7. Material flow analysis
Week 8. Industrial symbiosis
Week 9. Resources
Week 10. Dynamic material flow analysis
Revision:
A revision session may be organised in Week 11 and/or during the examination period.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Describe what industrial ecology is and its relevance to sustainability and engineering;
- Explain important issues, concepts, and methods in industrial ecology;
- Apply life cycle assessment and material flow analysis to product and material systems;
- Analyse and evaluate life cycle assessment and material flow analysis results;
- Create recommendations for relevant audiences of life cycle assessment and material flow analysis studies, based upon their results.
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Reading List
Important reading will be distributed to enrolled students online or will be available in the University Library. Essential reading includes:
- Graedel T.E., Allenby B.R.; Industrial Ecology, 2nd ed., Prentice Hall: Upper Saddle River (2003);
- Jolliet O., Saadé-Sbeih M., Shaked S.; Jolliet A., Crettaz P.; Environmental Life Cycle Assessment, 1st ed., CRC Press: Boca Raton (2016);
- Various articles and reports as appropriate. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Additional Class Delivery Information |
20 hours of lectures (2 hours/week for 10 weeks)
20 hours of workshops (2 hours/week for 10 weeks)
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| Keywords | Industrial Ecology,Sustainability,Systems Thinking,Life Cycle Assessment,Material Flow Analysis |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Rupert Myers
Tel: (0131 6)50 4870
Email: |
Course secretary | Mrs Shona Barnet
Tel: (0131 6)51 7715
Email: |
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