Eng

ECS 392

Fall 2017

PAPER 6

(Details)

Date due: Monday, Octobert 30, at 10:00 pm (via Turnitin).

Length: 600 to 700 words, double-spaced.

Topic:

For your paper, I would like you to discuss a technological innovation that contributes to sustainable development. It does so by, say, significantly increasing the efficiency of an existing technology (allowing users to “do more with less”) or decreasing humans’ environmental footprint through some entirely new process or product. There are many described in current periodicals. Here are some examples: https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2017/jan/01/sustainable-technology-2016-climate-change-environment

So, select such an innovation, and then in your paper please answer these questions (no need to re-state the questions in your paper):

1. What was the sustainability challenge the technological innovation is designed to address? In other words, why was there a need for this innovation?

2. How did this new technology improve on existing technology or efforts to manage the problem it addresses? That is, how does this innovation contribute to sustainable development? (Improved design, cheaper materials, etc.?)

3. What are the likely environmental and economic impacts, longer term, of the adoption of this technological innovation? (For example, will this innovation open up a new industry, creating new investment opportunities and new jobs?)

In general, what I’m looking for is an essay, looking at a particular innovation, that illustrates how engineering is making economic development increasingly more sustainable.

As always, cite your sources.