Course - Industrial Ecology and Sustainability - EP8114
EP8114 - Industrial Ecology and Sustainability
About
Examination arrangement
Examination arrangement: Oral examination and work
Grade: Passed / Not Passed
| Evaluation | Weighting | Duration | Grade deviation | Examination aids |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral examination | 50/100 | 40 minutes | D | |
| Work | 50/100 |
Course content
The course focuses on the intellectual framework, content and history of industrial ecology and examines the contribution of industrial ecology within sustainability science. Industrial Ecology arises more out of an urge to solve the environmental problem than out of intellectual curiosity and is hence closer to practical disciplines like engineering, management or medicine than to curiosity-driven natural or social science. We examine how environmental problems are described and conceived of in IE and compare this to other, sometimes related disciplines and paradigms. Industrial Ecology focuses on the socioeconomic metabolism which includes the acquisition of raw materials from nature, their refinement and conversion to products in industry, the build-up of infrastructure and long-lived products, and the creation of residuals such as waste and emissions. Notions of resource scarcity, ecosystems, earth system science, and Spaceship Earth are examined. As problem description and diagnosis often implicitly or explicitly related to solution strategies, we examine strategies to solving the environmental challenge. Scope, objects and methods of industrial ecology study and practice: What is the current state of the art of industrial ecology research and practice? Overview and classification. Subfields like life-cycle assessment, material flow analysis and industrial symbiosis studies are examined, as well as approaches loaned from the social sciences and mathematical modeling approaches.
Learning outcome
At the end of the course, the student should 1. know a range of historically important papers that shaped the way our field addresses questions of resource use in society and pollution caused by human activities 2. have an understanding of the intellectual content and scope of thinking in the field of industrial ecology, especially relating to our social metabolism. 3. understand how problems have been framed and what research approaches have been derived from that. 4. be able to relate to debates in the literature and understand how they have developed. 5. Be able to place the intellectual contribution of a piece of research. 6. have improved her/his academic discussion and writing skills given the course paper and feedback received on it. Understand the character, scope, and research questions addressed by industrial ecology and understand the emergence of industrial ecology out of a range of related interdisciplinary activity.
Learning methods and activities
Mandatory attendance of the seminars and discussions. Mandatory reading and presentation of scientific articles. Students need to deliver a paper relevant to the focus of the course. To pass the course a score of at least 70 percent is required.
Compulsory assignments
- Seminar
Further on evaluation
For a re-take of examination, all assessments during the course must be re-taken
Recommended previous knowledge
TEP4223 Life Cycle Assessment or similar
Course materials
To be announced.
No
Version: 1
Credits:
7.5 SP
Study level: Doctoral degree level
Term no.: 1
Teaching semester: AUTUMN 2024
Language of instruction: English
Location: Trondheim
- Industrial Ecology
- Technological subjects
Department with academic responsibility
Department of Energy and Process Engineering
Examination
Examination arrangement: Oral examination and work
- Term Status code Evaluation Weighting Examination aids Date Time Examination system Room *
- Autumn ORD Work 50/100
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Room Building Number of candidates - Autumn ORD Oral examination 50/100 D
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Room Building Number of candidates - Spring ORD Work 50/100
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Room Building Number of candidates - Spring ORD Oral examination 50/100 D
-
Room Building Number of candidates
- * The location (room) for a written examination is published 3 days before examination date. If more than one room is listed, you will find your room at Studentweb.
For more information regarding registration for examination and examination procedures, see "Innsida - Exams"