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Unit outline_

CHNG2805: Engineering for a Sustainable Society

Semester 2, 2022 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This course involves the study of the fundamental concepts which underpin sustainable development, including technical and economic efficiency, environmental stewardship and social responsibility. The course examines both the material and non-material economies from an engineering perspective. Tools such as life-cycle assessment, input-output analysis and multi-criteria decision analysis are examined and implications for resource and energy consumption, pollution and waste generation are analysed. A number of governing sustainability frameworks are discussed to determine their suitability within the context of chemical and biomolecular engineering. A range of approaches and tools for determining the environmental impact of human activities on small and large scale are introduced as part of a sustainability framework. Energy production and use, and product design are investigated from a sustainability perspective.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
CHNG1103
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
CHNG1106
Assumed knowledge
? 

Mass and energy balances, physical chemistry, physics

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Jun Huang, jun.huang@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Shenlong Zhao, shenlong.zhao@sydney.edu.au
Jun Huang, jun.huang@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Win Yang, wyan7735@uni.sydney.edu.au
- Rasmeet Singh, rasm4403@uni.sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Participation Tutorial
Continuous feedback
20% Multiple weeks about 1-3 pages
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO8 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Presentation Project presentation
Mid-term presentation about the project
20% Week 07
Due date: 19 Sep 2022 at 23:59
10 mins (including 2-3 mins question)
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO8 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Final project report
Written report
60% Week 13
Due date: 06 Nov 2022 at 23:59
15-20 pages
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO2

Assessment summary

Students will do the report and tutorials. Detailed information can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction to sustainability Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 02 Circular Economy Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 03 Climate change and carbon capture & storage Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 04 CO2 conversion and utilisation Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 05 H2 production, storage and transport Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 06 Artificial ammonia synthesis and utilisation Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO8
Week 07 Mid-term interview Project (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 08 Sustainable energy conversion and storage Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO8
Week 09 Water sustainability Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 10 Bio-refining for chemicals Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO7 LO8
Week 11 Bio-refining for other products Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 12 Sustainability in other industries Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO4 LO8
Week 13 Course review and revision Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)  

Attendance and class requirements

Encourge to come class lectures and tutorials.

Teaching team will monitor and support your participation.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Jingzheng Ren, Renewable-Energy-Driven Future, ISBN: 9780128205396, 1st Edition - September 16, 2020, Academic Press 

Yatish T. Shah, CO2 Capture, Utilization, and Sequestration Strategies, ISBN 9781032124803, Published November 12, 2021 by CRC Press

Basanta Kumara Behera, Ram Prasad, Environmental Technology and Sustainability, ISBN: 9780128191033, April 5, 2020, Elsevier.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. quantify the environmental performance of industry (with specific reference to the resource and processing sectors) using appropriate tools
  • LO2. understand corporate responsibilities with respect to sustainability
  • LO3. effectively communicate sustainability arguments to all stakeholders, and interpreters of social and environmental concerns in ways which can help shape industry practice
  • LO4. interrogate governing frameworks for sustainability to support actions within industry
  • LO5. understand the trade-offs in decisions which impact on sustainability
  • LO6. understand the role of technology in promoting sustainability
  • LO7. understand the philosophical, social and political bases for sustainability, in addition to the technical, economic and environmental ones
  • LO8. understand the thermodynamic basis of the material economy in terms of resource consumption and waste generation

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

content and delivery plan adapted to 13 weeks semester

Work, health and safety

Encourge to take masks for class teaching and tutorial. 

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.