(31u) Development and Implementation of Sustainability Lesson Modules for Sophomore-Level Chemical Engineering Courses

Preparing future engineers to address global changes begins in the classroom. The integration of sustainability is a key factor as the topic becomes more relevant in industry and piques student interest. This study focuses on the development of sustainability lesson modules for sophomore-level chemical engineering courses, guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). The modules aim to incorporate the principles of sustainability into technical topics such as material and energy balances and energy systems. The modules will highlight specific SDGs such as Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6), Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7), and Climate Action (SDG 13) to contextualize the technical content with global sustainability intentions. The curriculum will be developed by identifying key learning objectives, creating a classroom activity, and designing problem-based learning activities that will encourage students to make decisions based on environmental, economic, and social sustainability criteria. Implementation of the modules was assessed by conducting pre- and post- module surveys to measure changes in students’ knowledge of sustainability. Preliminary results suggest the modules successfully enhanced students’ ability to contextualize core technical knowledge within the framework of sustainable development which will further their success to tackle global challenges within industry.