Masters in Applied Sustainability is Educating Policy-savvy Engineers

For the past three years, students in the Collaborative Masters in Applied Sustainability (CMAS) program have learned to account for both technical and policy issues when working on engineering projects—a key strategic focus for the Queen’s University Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science.

“This new degree was created by faculty to respond to growing need and demand in the profession,” says Brian Surgenor, PhD, PEng, Vice-Dean, (Research and Graduate Studies). CMAS reflects increasing recognition that engineering decisions are often made for non-technical reasons. “Engineers need to be aware of how policy impacts their work and can often dictate the outcomes of their projects.” Sarah Thompson, Queen’s University MASc student, and Colin Ragush,

The innovative program has many Dalhousie UniversityPhD student, are getting ready to collect sunlight unique features, says Surgenor. One is penetration data in a wastewater stabilization pond in Pond Inlet, Nunavut. how it marries technical engineering knowledge with public policy issues. Another is how it addresses a wider Sustainability” added to their official broad-minded, capable, and sensitive to spectrum of concerns. “We’re considering transcripts. issues of policy and sustainability,” says the full problem of sustainability—most Students have responded to CMAS Surgenor. This will help in their careers, programs focus just on energy, but we with enthusiasm. “As soon as they heard he adds. “Hiring engineering grads who cover water and resources as well.” about the degree, they wanted to get on have these additional skills will appeal As the Faculty’s first interdisciplinary collaborative effort, the CMAS program includes courses from five core engineering departments: Chemical, Civil, Electrical and Computer, Mechanical and Materials, and Mining Engineering. Faculty members from these departments share the teaching responsibility for “Topics in Applied Sustainability,” a course that introduces “ Mohamed says that while the CMAS program is currently a collaborative program, he predicts that it will someday develop into a standalone department. “The world is evolving and conventional engineering to employers who deal with these issues every day.” Ibrahim Mohamed, Sc’12, MEng’13, says his professor, Bruce Anderson, inspired him to sign up. “He told us it is important to establish an environmental consciousness in all we do as engineers,” says Mohamed. “That’s what made me choose the Collaborative Masters in Applied Sustainability. I wanted to get a students to the concepts of engineering for sustainability. It is one of two practice will be obsolete,” he says. better understanding of sustainability— not just the technical aspects, but also the mandatory core courses. The other is an “We need about 1.6 planets just to policy considerations.” Applied Sustainability Seminar Series. As well, the CMAS draws on sustain what we have, so we have to As part of his degree, Mohamed worked on a project to explore renewable disciplines outside the Faculty, including Geology, Geography, Environmental Studies, and Policy Studies. To complete a CMAS degree, MSc students take four courses and the seminar series, and write a thesis. MEng students take eight courses, one of which may be a project course, and the seminar series. Upon graduation, students have “with specialization in Applied board,” Surgenor says. “It’s a growing program—we began in 2010 with 5 students, and it’s up to 10 this year. We expect to have to cap the program at 20.” CMAS prepares students to be “more ” move toward more sustainable solutions. energy potential in the Middle East/ North Africa region. “I was looking for renewable solutions, with a focus on smart buildings,” he says. The specialization gave him a better understanding of sustainability, he adds, and the multiple disciplines that necessarily come into play. “The degree really broadened my education as a civil engineer.”

is Educating Policy-Savvy Engineers

Asked about the program’s highlights, Mohamed says it was

“brilliant” how the curriculum encompassed not just energy, but environmental policies and resources as well. Studying with students and professors from other engineering departments, and with professors from other faculties, also expanded his thinking.

“We’re required to take a Policy

Studies course, for example, so the focus of the degree goes beyond technical knowledge,” he says. “We learned about bylaws and legislation and other factors that might affect our projects.”

Mohamed says that while the

CMAS program is currently a collaborative program, he predicts that it will someday develop into a standalone department. “The world is evolving and conventional engineering practice will be obsolete,” he says. “We need about 1.6 planets just to sustain what we have, so we have to move “ ” We’re required to take a policy studies course, for example, so the focus of the degree goes beyond technical knowledge. We learned about bylaws and legislation and other factors that might affect our projects. toward more sustainable solutions.” Surgenor says the CMAS program has made excellent progress since its launch in September 2010. In the future, he expects that demand will grow: its curriculum will evolve as new courses are offered, new faculty get involved, and the Engineering Faculty’s strategic focus on sustainability continues to develop. “CMAS provides a wonderful framework to build on Queen’s expertise in applied sustainability.”

> For more: www.engineering.queensu.ca/

Ibrahim Mohamed