With philosophical roots long set in literature and a pop-culture surge in the 1960s, the idea of sustainability has re-entered the public discourse with an increasing sense of urgency. A wave of “green” thinking is sweeping through corporate hallways and populating blogs, advertising campaigns, and public service messages along the way. In short order, sustainability has pervaded public thinking in various dimensions.
Engineering today is practiced in a strong social context as a profession that uses technology to improve lives and livelihoods. Our students need to view themselves as leaders for a cleaner, healthier, safer, and more sustainable world. Here in the College of Engineering, we frame those issues in the context of the 2050 Challenge, a theme that aligns research and educational initiatives with the high-impact problems that, if left unchecked, will threaten quality of life in the year 2050. We recognize that our students will need to participate as informed and critical thinkers in conversations about food, water, shelter, health care, energy, and other matters at the intersection of technology and policy.
In short, we see engineering as a profession that enables one to make a true difference in the world. Throughout their careers, our students will make decisions about the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. We want our students to understand the issues surrounding sustainability and be positioned to lead and serve society in that regard.
Sustainability is a topic of keen interest to today’s students. I had the opportunity to speak recently with a human resources director from one of the companies that recruits our students. She told me that the second most common question that their company is asked by prospective recruits is “What is your company doing to help the environment?” (No surprise here, but the most common question is about salary.)
You’ll be pleased to know that the College of Engineering is increasing its portfolio of educational and research offerings in sustainability, and that our faculty are partnering with colleagues across campus on these programs. Students have the opportunity to select from more than thirty classes across campus that address sustainability in the context of energy, water, climate, agriculture, manufacturing, and other disciplines. Our Engineering Leadership Program and the new student groups Engineers Without Borders and Engineers for a Sustainable World likewise prepare students to think across disciplines and to understand the interrelationships among science, engineering, and agriculture. And the college recently hired two new faculty members in this signature area of ours.
Our work takes place against the backdrop of important changes in the needs of Iowa and our nation, and in the economic and public policy landscapes. I hope that you enjoy reading about what Cyclone engineers are saying and doing about sustainability in this issue of Innovate.