ENST 443Industrial Ecology Spring 2013

Meeting Time:M/W 11:00AM-12:15PM

Classroom:Wednesdays in 0538 Animal Sciences/Ag. Engineering Bldg. for Lab

Mondays in 0422 Animal Sciences/Ag. Engineering Bldg. for Lecture

Instructor:Patrick Kangas

Office:1455 Animal Sciences/Ag. Engineering Bldg.

Office Hours:Wednesdays 3:00-5:00 PM

Contact:(301)405-1259;

Course Description: The industrial ecology approach to design is introduced and surveyed. Use of ecology as a model for industrial systems is explored.

Prerequisites: a first course in calculus; a general ecology course.

Course Goals: To develop an understanding of the field of industrial ecology, including principles, practices and case study examples. Emphasis will be on the systems approach and use of a symbolic modeling language for describing systems will be an important part of the course. Active learning will be fostered with field trips and lab exercises and it will compliment materials presented using the standard lecture format.

Text: McDonough, W. and M. Braungart. 2002. Cradle to Cradle. North Point Press, New York, NY.

Grading:

Lab Notebook35 %

Mid-term Exam30 %

Final Exam35 %

Descriptions of the lab work will be required for each scheduled lab exercise and they will be collected into a lab notebook. The descriptions of the lab exercises will include an introduction to the subject matter, the activities of the lab exercise, the data gathered during the exercise and a brief discussion of the results. The materials in the lab notebook must be typed; photographs depicting aspects of the lab exercises are encouraged but they are not required. The materials in the lab notebooks will be graded on clarity of writing style, coverage of the topic and logical basis of the reporting. The completed lab notebooks will be due on the last day of classes.

Field Trips: Several field trips will be scheduled during the course and each student is encouraged to participate if his or her schedule permits. The field trips will involve tours of sites relevant to industrial ecology. Information covered during the field trips will be included on the exams and a review session will be held for those students who are unable to participate on the trips.

Academic Integrity: Because the University of Maryland is an academic community in which commitment to the principles of truth and academic honesty are essential, the Code of Academic Integrity prohibits students from committing the following acts of academic dishonesty:

1) Cheating – intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in any academic exercise.

2) Fabrication – intentional and unauthorized falsification or invention of any information or citation in any academic exercise.

3) Facilitating academic dishonesty – intentionally or knowingly helping or attempting to help another violate any provision of the Academic Code.

4) Plagiarism – intentionally or knowingly representing the works or ideas of another as one’s own in any academic exercise.

Students with Disabilities: If you have a documented disability and wish to discuss academic accommodations, please contact me as soon as possible.

Important Dates

Spring Break: March 16-24

Last day of our class: May 8

Final Exam Date: Tuesday, May 14, 8:00-10:00AM

INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY Tentative Course Schedule:

1/23, Wcourse introduction/lab #1: water bottle design

1/28, Mcourse expectations/introduction to industrial ecology

1/30, Wlab #2 set-up: biodegradation

2/4, Mintroduction to industrial systems

2/6, Weconomics of the firm – analogies with energy and chemical budgets

2/11, Mefficiency at the scale of the firm – analogies with energy flow

2/13, Wconcepts of cycling and recycling – analogies with biogeochemistry

2/18, Mcase study #1 E-waste/safety training

2/20, Wlab #3: deconstruction of electronics

2/25, Mlab #3: deconstruction of electronics

2/27, Wcase study #2 domestic solid waste systems

3/4, Mcase study #3 plastics

3/6, Wfield trip #1

3/11, M Henry Ford – first industrial ecologist

3/13, Wmid-term exam

3/18, Mno class – spring break

3/20, Wno class – spring break

3/25, Mcase study #4 ferrous and case study #5 non-ferrous earth materials

3/27, Wcase study #6 paper products and case study #7 waste heat

4/1, Mcase study #8 fertilizers and case study #9 biosolids

4/3, Wfield trip #2

4/8, Mlab #4: floating trash analysis

4/10, Wlab #4: floating trash analysis

4/15, Mcase study #10 automobiles and case study #11 batteries

4/17, Wcase study #12 nuclear power and radioactive wastes

4/22, Mcase study #13 carbon issues and accounting

4/24, Wfield trip #3

4/29, Mcase study #14 technoecosystems and automation

5/1, Wlab #2 follow-up: biodegradation

5/6, Mlab completion and graduate student presentation

5/8, Wcourse review and summary