By providing an integrated, systems-approach to problem-solving and incorporation of ecological principles in engineering design, Ecological Engineering addresses many of the shortcomings of both Ecology and Engineering needed to work out how people and nature can beneficially coexist on planet Earth. Despite its origins in the 1950’s, Ecological Engineering remains a niche discipline, while at the same time, there has never been a greater need to combine the rigour of engineering and science with the systems approach of ecology for pro-active management of Earth’s biodiversity and environmental life-support systems. Broad consensus on the scope and defining elements of Ecological Engineering and development of a globally consistent Ecological Engineering curriculum is a key pillar to wider recognition of the disciple and practice of Ecological Engineering. This session will explore what industry, practitioners, educators and students see as the need for skills in Ecological Engineering. The session will build on work carried out over the past few years by a small curriculum group in IEES with representatives from Switzerland, the UK, the USA and Australia. The session aims to ascertain if there is a wider recognition of the need for Ecological Engineering, the demand for this discipline, what a curriculum looks like, and how it differs from other, more mainstream courses. We aim to capture the discussion in a paper documenting input on the scope and defining elements of a globally consistent Ecological Engineering curriculum.

Speakers

David Austin - Natural Treatment Systems Lead - Jacobs

Gaby Dotro - Senior Research Fellow - Cranfield University

Ashantha Goonetilleke - Professor - Queensland University of Technology

Peter Head - Founder and Chair - Resilience Brokers

Martin Regelsberger - Owner - Technisches Büro Regelsberger