Since offering its first classical engineering course in 1851, Duke University’s Pratt School of Engineering has become a national leader in engineering education, with all of its programs ranked in the top 30 in their fields (US News and World Report). “These rankings reflect our unwavering commitment to boldly solving pressing societal problems through excellence in teaching and research,” said Jerome Lynch, Dean of the Vinik Dean of the Duke University Pratt School of Engineering. .
In 2024, Duke University celebrates 100 years of excellence in engineering education. Looking to the future, the university is focused on making a significant positive impact nationally and globally. One of the programs that best represents this mission and the school’s continued commitment to solving complex challenges to improve the quality of life in our communities is our new Master of Engineering in Climate and Sustainability Engineering. is.
“The need for a new generation of engineering professionals who are ready to take sustained action is motivating us to launch a new Master of Engineering program in Climate and Sustainability Engineering,” said W. H. Gardner Jr., Director of Civil and Environmental Engineering. said Henry Gavin. Duke. “The world needs engineering solutions that mitigate the effects of climate change, but it also needs solutions that help communities and organizations adapt and become more resilient to the effects of climate change.”
So how do top 25 engineering schools prepare students to become leaders who can devise practical, impactful solutions to address the increasingly urgent climate crisis?
Duke University’s new Master of Engineering degree in Climate and Sustainability Engineering develops well-rounded leaders to combat the effects of climate change. Source: Duke University
Customized curriculum carefully selected by industry leaders and expert faculty
The MEng curriculum is interdisciplinary and professional. High-impact courses include Applied Climate and Sustainability Engineering, Systems Engineering for Climate and Response Modeling, Materials Transition: From Linear to Circular Materials Systems, Risk and Resilience Engineering, and Energy Transition. Students can specialize in areas such as climate change design, data science, fintech, and hydrology, to name just four.
This program is designed this way because the industry needs it this way. Projects need leaders who understand the technical side of things and have a broader understanding of the system being developed. “As climate and equity challenges accelerate and become more salient, designers of future infrastructure/products/processes will require a highly interdisciplinary approach, balancing essential trade-offs. “People who can think in systems will become increasingly valuable,” said industry advisory board member Bob Beinstein.
Duke knows this because we listened and engaged deeply with industry and alumni experts and leaders during the process of creating MEng. Few other programs can say the same thing.
Once a curriculum is in place, faculty members whose research focus areas have a synergistic effect with the curriculum will bring it to fruition. For example, Assistant Professor Liang Feng is pioneering an engineering platform that stores gas for climate change applications, such as carbon capture and fueling vehicles. Professor Judy Ledley, Executive in Residence leading the Design Climate Program, works on clean technology innovation and green technology commercialization. Associate Professor Leanne Gilbertson bridges molecular and systems-level materials design for applications that improve the environment and public health.
The new Master of Engineering in Climate and Sustainability Engineering includes one-on-one communication consulting and career coaching, as well as selected social activities. Source: Duke University
Leadership training by current leaders
The program will be led by Sarah Oliver. A 2006 graduate of Duke University’s Civil and Environmental Engineering program, she spent 10 years working on and leading flood mitigation programs at the World Trade Center site. She then managed contracts with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and worked with marketing giant Ogilvy to educate communities about flood risks and encourage them to take action to protect themselves.
MEng’s courses on ‘Managing High-Tech Industries’ and ‘Business Fundamentals for Engineers’, as well as workshops and seminars, are set up to prepare students for a career trajectory similar to Oliver’s. In fact, this program was created at the graduate level rather than an undergraduate degree so that students with different engineering degrees and careers could come together. This enriching experience allows graduates to hit the ground running.
“The world desperately needs engineers with the ability to integrate the big picture of climate change with the technical expertise needed to implement detailed engineering solutions,” Oliver said. “This new MEng program will meet this critical need by leveraging Duke’s deep expertise and resources to train a pipeline of vigilant leaders.”
Practical experiential learning
MEng includes compulsory internships in a wide range of areas of impact. Being a graduate program, students begin working on real-world projects from day one. This meets the demand for candidates with work experience that companies can hire for entry-level or mid-level positions. In this regard, Duke University students also receive support in the form of active career services.
“There is no substitute for working with a team on a real project,” says Stephen Burgos, director of public works for the city of Boise and member of the industry advisory board.
And there are few better ways to prepare for such future projects than to follow in the footsteps of those who have successfully collaborated with multiple stakeholders. “Engineers who are able to think beyond engineering and consider the social, environmental, and geopolitical context of solutions are a big step toward helping students become future changemakers,” the nonprofit says. said Andrea Johnson, Executive Director of Green Empowerment. works with rural communities around the world to improve access to renewable energy, water, sanitation, and cookstoves.
If you haven’t built a project portfolio to introduce yourself to potential employers, the program runs other initiatives and events you can participate in. How to increase investment in climate action, along with a conversation about coastal nature-based case studies. Solutions and community engagement techniques used to design effective dialogue with local stakeholders to ensure project success.
Learn about the Master of Engineering in Climate and Sustainability Engineering today.
