Proposal for Strategic CENG
Initiative on Sustainability
College Working Session
December 9th 2003
Sustainability



What is?
Decentralized Effort?
Keywords:







Environment
Energy
Industry
Economics
Education
Engineering?
Opportunity for CENG?
In 1987, the World Commission on Environment and Development
developed a definition of sustainability that was included in its
findings, which became known as the Brundtland Report.
“Sustainable development meets
the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own
needs.”
http://www.facilities.calpoly.edu/Facilities_Planning/campusprojects/projects/
sustainability/Pages/definition.htm
also check:
http://www.globalsustainability.org/Education/Definitions/
Who is doing this? Do I care?







NAE 2020 Engineer
Talloires Declaration
Cal Poly Campus Baby
Steps
Coordination
Does CENG Have a Role?
Synergy/Timing
Opportunity
National Academy of Engineering:
Engineer 2020-Prospectus
Under:
OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FOR THE
21ST CENTURY
…
Some of the most salient trends are listed below:
 A global population approaching 10 billion with a
steadily aging demographic and growing demand
for diversity in the engineering workforce
 An imperative for “sustainability” in the face of
global population growth, industrialization,
urbanization, and environmental degradation
AT CAL POLY
http://suntzu.larc.calpoly.edu/crp/indicators/database/calpoly.html
As organizations of higher education, universities are in the unique
position to foster awareness, knowledge, skills, and values that
prepare students to “pursue goals in ways that sustain human and
non-human well-being for current and future institutions” (Dalton).
Universities provide forums for equipping students with innovative
ideas and promoting contemporary thinking about sustainability.
Cal Poly is currently aware of and making progress towards
sustainability. According to Linda Dalton, Vice Provost for
Institutional Planning, “more is being done than meets the eye.” The
Master Plan for the campus has the theme of sustainability running
throughout it. The Environmental Sustainability Element of the plan
specifically describes objectives and policies to promote campus
energy efficiency, protection of natural environments, reducing the
consumption of natural resources, and to mitigate construction
impacts.
other players

EU: First Environment Policy Review highlights need
to speed up reforms to better protect the environment
and promote sustainable development -Brussels, 3
December 2003

UN Division of
Alliance for Global Sustainability






the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich – ETH
the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
the University of Tokyo
Chalmers University of Technology
U.S. Interagency Working Group on
Sustainable Development Indicators
The Sustainable Development Playing Field
Drivers of Growth
Drivers
Effects
Technology
Innovation
Opening
Political
Systems
Growing
Populations
Changes in
Societal
Values
Playing
Decline in
Natural
Systems
Government
Intervention
Field
Social
Instability
Shifts in
Market
Demands
Globalization
of the Future
New Strategic Choices
Conventional Growth
Opportunities
Sustainability
The Spectrum of Approaches to the Challenge
Thrust
?
Actions
Introverts
Extroverts
BottomLiners
Top-Liners
Transformers
Stay with
pack
Take the
high road
Cost
Leadership
Differentiation
Growth
Should I
do
anything
?
How can I
better align
with
stakeholders
?
How can I
get cost
advantage
?
How can I
capitalize on
sustainable
development
?
How can I
leverage
sustainable
development
to transform
the
organization?
Wait and
see:
Strengthen
communities
and
envi’mental
protection
Improve
ecoefficiency
of process
Create
products and
services with
unique
characteristics
Leverage
sustainable
development
to better
learn,
innovate, and
manage for
the future
track the
issues
Source: A.D. Little, 1999
The Proposal





Practical and Innovative Approaches
to the Ultimate Engineering
Multidisciplinary Problem
Leaders in this Emerging Topic
CENG-Wide Participation
Visible Participation in the Talloires
Declaration Signing by the President
Co-sponsor International Conference
at Cal Poly with National Academy of
Engineering
The Risks






Faculty Support?
Student Support?
Industrial Support?
Competition with other
Colleges and Universities
Administrative Complexity
and Slow Outcomes
Verification
Blasphemy?
The Rewards






Top of the Class
New Theme
Campus PR
National Exposure
Student Demand
International Status
The “Here and Now” Specifics





Insert Guest Lectures in
Courses
Create a “CENG Sustainability
Center/Institute”
Start Planning International
Conference for 2005
Coordinate with Campus and
President’s Office
Enhance CENG Profile in this
Area