2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Applying Engineering for One Planet (EOP) Framework to Teach Environmental Risk in Two Institutions

Presented at Tech Session 4: Embedding Engineering for One Planet (EOP) Framework in Engineering Education

A course module of the environmental risk topic was developed aligning with the Engineering for One Planet (EOP) framework. The module was used in courses from two public institutions: one is a required course named Introduction to Environmental and Ecological Engineering in an Environmental and Ecological Engineering program and open to all engineering students as an elective, while the other is a required course named Solid Waste Management in an Environmental Engineering program. Assessment data were collected to evaluate student understanding of the environmental risks through reflection essays. A qualitative approach was utilized to evaluate the reflection essays, specifically, the Constant Comparative Method was employed to identify emerging themes related to students' comprehension of environmental risks and their alignment with sustainability principles. Essays were coded for key indicators such as depth of critical thinking, integration of EOP concepts, and the students' ability to connect theoretical knowledge with real-world environmental challenges. The qualitative data analysis was supported by rubrics aligned with Bloom's Taxonomy to assess varying cognitive levels demonstrated in student reflections. This approach provided insights into the efficacy of the EOP-aligned module in fostering a deeper understanding of environmental sustainability and risk assessment among engineering students.

Authors

Dr. Xinyu Zhang Purdue University [biography]

Dr. Xinyu Zhang is an Assistant Professor of Engineering Practice in Environmental and Ecological Engineering (EEE) at Purdue University’s College of Engineering. She received her Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, is a North Carolina-licensed Professional Engineer, and currently leads an NSF project on recruitment strategies for engineering bridge and success programs. Her research interests include engineering education such as broadening participation in engineering, teaching technology innovations, and engineering entrepreneurship, as well as EEE discipline-based topics such as energy-water-environment nexus and sustainable biomanufacturing.
Dr. Roneisha Wynette Worthy http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8093-8570 Kennesaw State University [biography]

Dr. Roneisha Worthy, Ph.D. is currently the Assistant Chair and tenured Associate Professor for the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at Kennesaw State University. In addition to her administrative role, she remains actively engaged in teaching and conducts research with a focus on increasing the representation of minorities in Engineering. Before joining the university, Dr. Worthy served as a Research Assistant at Vanderbilt University, contributing to a group funded by the Department of Energy. Her primary research focused on the long-term evaluation of near-surface waste disposal under climate change impacts at nuclear waste sites. With a background as an environmental engineer/planner at Gresham, Smith, and Partners, as well as General Motors Corporation, Dr. Worthy brings a wealth of industry experience to her academic roles. She has a proven track record of addressing critical environmental challenges. In her recent endeavors, Dr. Worthy is actively collaborating with the Lemelson Foundation to institutionalize the Engineering for One Planet framework at Kennesaw State University. This initiative reflects her commitment to sustainability and innovative engineering practices.

Note

The full paper will be available to logged in and registered conference attendees once the conference starts on June 22, 2025, and to all visitors after the conference ends on June 25, 2025

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