Training our engineers to reduce environmental impact

What is it about?

These scientists did a survey of civil engineering students’ views about climate change. The survey was completed by over 4,000 students from 4 different universities in the USA. About 75% of the students agreed global warming is caused by human activity, but they were confused about what actually causes global warming. For example, 60% thought it is caused by nuclear power stations (in fact, nuclear power stations produce no greenhouse gases). Only about half of the students felt that climate change was relevant to them personally.

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Photo by Victor on Unsplash

Photo by Victor on Unsplash

Why is it important?

It is important that civil engineers understand the causes of climate change. They work on building and transport projects that can be bad for the environment – for example, if they increase emissions of carbon dioxide. Today’s civil engineering students will need to design and construct in a way that minimizes environmental impact. KEY TAKEAWAY: We need to make sure our education system is helping people understand the causes of climate change. Students need to see climate change as a human problem, rather than a technical one. They need to be ready to reduce climate damage when they move into the world of work. This research relates to the following Sustainable Development Goals: • SDG 13: Climate Action • SDG 4: Quality Education • SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities • SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production • SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure