Materials for a Regenerative Economy

Catalog description

This course provides a unique understanding of the role of materials in society, and how environmentally aware material and product design can benefit quality-of-life issues, including human health, the environment, and social justice. Green materials design/selection and green manufacturing are concepts needed by our civilization to sustain us on earth, but they are far from being fully developed and implemented. Current challenges include: the typical timeline of materials design (20 years from discovery to market adoption), need for system approach in material/device production, and slow socio-political process. This course focuses on the key material properties required for change in material design, understanding the scientific underpinning of changes to the materials, methods for component/element to seek alternatives in the context of the system, method of life cycle and the environmental impact assessment. Through case studies, the course will examine materials, mining, and manufacturing data, and study ways that material behaviors may be achieved through alternative, less harmful processing. The course will explore the place of materials within the context of economic development, environmental sustainability, and the circular economy.