Examination arrangement

Course content

This course is the Master thesis in the field of Industrial Ecology at the Department Energy and Process Engineering. Students choose and design tasks and aims in collaboration with the teacher, and, if relevant, in agreement with co-supervisors at NTNU or external partners.

Industrial ecology concerns the interaction of anthropogenic and natural systems and how they are influenced by technology, society and human factors. It considers flows of material and energy in industrial and consumer activity, and the effects they have on environment, human health and future resource availability. Systems analysis methods in industrial ecology include life-cycle assessment, material flow analysis, input-output analysis, systems engineering, cost-benefit analysis, risk analysis or related techniques.

The thesis applies industrial ecology methods to one or several of the following topics:

• Ecosystems and bioresources
• Circular economy and resource efficiency
• Energy, transport and built environment
• Sustainable production and consumption systems

Learning outcome

After completing this thesis, the student have in-depth knowledge within the analysis of environmental pressures caused by selected anthropogenic systems and knowledge of the theory, application, assumptions, strengths and limits of environmental systems analysis. Application depends on thesis topic and may involve ecosystems and bioresources, circular economy and resource efficiency, energy, transport and built environment, or sustainable production and consumption.

After completing this thesis, the students have the skills to:

• apply environmental systems analysis in a research context, depending on thesis topic life cycle assessment, life cycle impact assessment, material flow analysis or input-output analysis.
• define and appraise sustainability strategies based on life cycle and systems thinking.
• structure and plan scientific work;
• acquire an understanding of the state of the art regarding a specific scientific question through literature study and be able to evaluate own contribution to the research frontier;
• conduct detailed and comprehensive analysis of a specified topic using scientific methods, such as empirical research, analysis and interpretation of empirical data, or development and utilization of models for prospective assessment;
• execute an independent project including the development of a project plan with milestones, the reporting of intermediate and final results, and writing a report or paper according to commonly applied scientific standards.

After completing this thesis, the student have general competence at master-level in environmental systems analysis. This involves to:

• describe product-service and production-consumption systems on systems level in a practical context, propose industrial ecology methods to evaluate their sustainability and reflect upon method and methodological choices.
• discuss and negotiate stakeholder interests, norms, practices and opinions in sustainability assessment and reflect critically on scientific, social, ethical and environmental responsibilities in their own work.

Learning methods and activities

Coursework in the master thesis includes independent research with supervision, scientific writing and oral presentation. Course deliverables are the written thesis report with an oral defense.

Further on evaluation

Information about writing and submitting your master's thesis Oppgaveskriving; see Routines on startup and submission of thesis within engineering/technology studies.

The master's thesis has to be submitted in NTNU's examination system Inspera Assessment. The deadline for submitting the master's thesis is 20 weeks from the starting date (the students have additional 6 weeks if they are writing a master thesis abroad.) + 7 days for Easter/Christmas holidays. Applications for an extended deadline must be submitted to the faculty. Students who fail the master's thesis, can submit a new or revised thesis once. It is not possible to improve an awarded grade by submitting a new thesis.

The assessment of the master's thesis shall be made available to the candidate within 3 months.

Specific conditions

Recommended previous knowledge

Conducting the Industrial Ecology, Master's Thesis requires prior knowledge in relevant methods within the field of industrial ecology. Depending on specialization, the following courses at NTNU or equivalent courses elsewhere may be required: TEP4220 (environmental impact indicators), TEP4222 (input-output analysis), TEP4223 (life cycle analysis), TEP4285 (material flow analysis), TEP4300 (climate change mitigation).

Required previous knowledge

TEP5100 or similar.