The increasing need for engineers to address sustainability will add significant complexity their tasks. They will therefore need the skills and knowledge to understand and predict the impact of their practice. This course will focus on the dynamics of complex adaptive systems in the context of the environmental and social impacts of technological innovation. Students will develop the engineering knowledge and skills required for the design and sustainable operation of systems that are highly non-linear. Sustainability will be defined in engineering terms, and the basic dynamical principles illustrated using case-study simulations. The course will be presented using a blended mode of delivery which will give students access to case-study materials and working models.

Students will be able to:

1. demonstrate knowledge of the critical sustainability challenges for the 21st century
2. identify the wider impacts of engineering and technological innovation on the environment and society
3. apply concepts and techniques associated with the dynamics of complex adaptive systems to engineering design and innovation
4. anticipate unintended outcomes of engineering decisions in the context of highly non-linear systems
5. use CCM to effectively negotiate engineering situationsthat are socially, environmentally and economically sustainable

Quizzes (20%); Tutorial Activities (30%); Group Project (50%).

Weekly workload comprised od lectures and linked activities (2 hours), tutorial (1 hour), quizzes (1 hour), project work (3 hours), self-directed study (3 hours).

ENGN2225 Systems Engineering Design or ENVS2011 Human Ecology.

None.

Course page http://eng.anu.edu.au/study/currentstudents/courses