Description:

 Environmental engineering is a crucially important field in a world that is beset with social problems and environmental crises. These modern problems and crises are mostly a direct result of bad decisions and harmful actions taken in the course of history by human beings. In a very broad sense of the term, we have �engineered� the problems facing society and nature today, and it is up to us to engineer our way clear of them and into a world that is amenable to a healthy and fulfilling life for all, using better knowledge and wiser judgement.

Thus the course aims to present the subject with a good latitude of coverage, examining its development and practice in a holistic way, so that its place in assisting graduates to deal with environmental problems and offer solutions will be meaningful. Students should come out of the course with (1) a basic familiarity with the environmental issues of today (e.g. population growth, pollution, resource depletion, diminishing bio-diversity), (2) a basic familiarity with various approaches (e.g. ecological science, resource economics, environmental law, environmental ethics), (3) familiarity with environmental management techniques and technologies at a level appropriate for a practising professional (e.g. cost-benefit analyses, impact assessments, ameliorative technologies, appropriate technology choices), and (4) an appreciation of the importance of the issues, as well as their intractability.

Relevant Activities: 

Public awareness/advocacy, Training, Research and education, Local capacity building, Technical assistance, Integrated development planning

Target Area:

Republic of Namibia, Republic of South Africa

Contact Details:

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Peninsula Technikon, Symphony Way
Bellville, Western Cape, Republic of South Africa 7530

Tel: 021-9596487/96
Fax: 021-9596104
Email: omari@pentech.ac.za; moosae@pentech.ac.za

Ilyas Omar
Email: omari@pentech.ac.za