MJ2615 Introduction to Industrial Ecology, larger course 7.5 credits

The course gives an introduction to Industrial Ecology and presents the developments in research and application in the field of industrial ecology. The course also is discussing the role of industrial ecology in strategic sustainable development on a global scale as well as for strategies for manufacturing industries. The course contains a larger project work in comparison to MJ2611.
Choose semester and course offering
Choose semester and course offering to see information from the correct course syllabus and course offering.
Content and learning outcomes
Course contents
In this course the key concepts and the historical development of industrial ecology will be critically analysed. System tools to support industrial ecology will be briefly reviewed. Examples will be given how industrial ecology have been and can be used to develop long term strategies for the development of technology and for the industrial sector. The interaction between production and consumption as well as IE as a concept for creating the way for making material and energy use more effective than current practice in countries in the North will be discussed.
Intended learning outcomes
The course presents the developments in research and application in the field of industrial ecology and discusses the role of industrial ecology in strategic sustainable development on a global scale, as well as for strategies for manufacturing industries.
After completion of the course the students should be able to:
- explain the concept of sustainable development and the role of industrial ecology (IE) in supporting it;
- explain the importance of ecological metaphors in the analysis of industrial systems;
- explain the sustainability issues related to current patterns of sustainable consumption and production, reflecting on ethics and inequality from a global perspective;
- apply IE principles to understand environmental and socio-economic consequences of material and energy flows through systems; and
- search information from scientific literature related to IE and summarize and analyse in written reports;
- demonstrate newly-gained knowledge by critically discussing, orally and in a written format, the importance of IE approaches when analyzing and improving the sustainability performance of a technical system.
Course disposition
Literature and preparations
Specific prerequisites
TSUTM:-
Others: Open for programme students at KTH with at least 150 ECTS or a Bachelor degree for other students
Courses from Upper Secondary School corresponding to the courses Eng B/6 according to the Swedish upper secondary school system
Recommended prerequisites
Equipment
Literature
“Taking Stock of Industrial Ecology, 2016, Editors: Clift, Roland, Druckman, Angela (Eds.) – free access on Springer” http://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783319205700
Examination and completion
If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.
Grading scale
Examination
- PRO3 - Project, 3.0 credits, grading scale: P, F
- SEM6 - Assignment + Attendance, 0.5 credits, grading scale: P, F
- SEM7 - Assignment + Attendance, 0.5 credits, grading scale: P, F
- SEM8 - Assignment + Attendance, 0.5 credits, grading scale: P, F
- TEN3 - Examination, 3.0 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.
The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.
Opportunity to complete the requirements via supplementary examination
Opportunity to raise an approved grade via renewed examination
Examiner
Ethical approach
- All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
- In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
- In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.
Further information
Course web
Further information about the course can be found on the Course web at the link below. Information on the Course web will later be moved to this site.
Course web MJ2615