Education for Sustainable Development using Design Thinking and Appropriate Technology

The Brundtland Commission’s definition of Sustainable Development (SD) clearly highlights the importance of the three dimensions of sustainability, namely environmental, social and economic, when one considers development. It also stresses the need for greater equity around the world, all within limits of the planet’s finite resources. In 2008, an inter-ministerial committee on sustainable development (IMCSD) was set up to formulate a national strategy for Singapore’s sustainable growth in response to mounting global resource scarcity. The Diploma in Chemical Engineering in Singapore Polytechnic, having recognized the importance of SD, has adopted a two-pronged approach to introduce SD into its curriculum: (1) Integration into selected core modules across all three years of study; and (2) SD-themed Year 3 Final Year Projects (FYPs). The first approach served to support the implementation of the latter and was discussed extensively in our earlier works. In the present work, the second approach takes the center stage and we will present our way of linking chemical engineering concepts with elements of SD. This was achieved via the conduct of a FYP with the aim of designing and developing a sustainable solution for high-density aquaculture for the diminishing local fish farming industry. The project involved the use of design thinking to assist in the Conceive and Design phases of the project. Besides, students incorporated “appropriate technology” in their designs to promote sustainability practices. Findings suggest that design thinking is able to empower our students to come out with creative ideas that work. It also dawned on us that appropriate technology does help with sustainability practices and its application is indeed suitable at the diploma-level where students have yet to master a high level of technical competencies like university undergraduates do. Finally, deriving from the learning points gained, we outline a more holistic approach which the diploma’s course management team is embarking on to further drive SD infusion.

Proceedings of the 9th International CDIO Conference, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Cambridge, Massachusetts, June 9 – 13, 2013.