Specialization Overview
Engineering sustainable environmental systems refers to application of engineering and biology to provide basic services for human needs (food, water, energy) and to manage waste flows in a manner that protects the environment and does not compromise the needs of future generations.
One can design new and improved processes to provide people with clean water and renewable energy. One can design new and improved systems to eliminate or manage waste streams from many sources (food processing waste, agricultural waste, human waste). Other applications include; detection and reduction of contaminants in the environment such as pesticides, heavy metals, and pathogens and biochemical processing of plant and animal materials to produce fuels and energy.
Careers in Engineering Sustainable Environmental Systems
Engineers working in these areas pursue careers as consulting engineers working in waste management, energy production and conservation and environmental stewardship. They may also function as environmental, energy, and sustainability specialists in corporations, and as public health engineers in health, education and safety agencies. Many engineers obtain graduate degrees in engineering, management, law, and planning.
Sample Curricula
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| BEE 5951 | Master of Engineering Design Project |
| BEE 5590 | Physical Design in Biological Engineering |
| CHEME 6660 | Analysis of Sustainable Energy Systems |
| BEE 6560 | Ecological Biomechanics |
| AEM 6580 | Economics and Psychology of Sustainable Business |
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| BEE 5952 | Master of Engineering Design Project |
| BEE 5330 | Engineering Professionalism |
| CEE 6210 | Renewable Energy Systems |
| BEE 6880 | Applied Modeling and Simulation for Renewable Energy Systems |
| BEE 5469 | Energy Seminar II |
| BEE 5850 | Environmental Data Analysis and Simulation |
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| BEE 5951 | Master of Engineering Design Project |
| BEE 5750 | Environmental Systems Analysis |
| BEE 5459 | Energy Seminar I |
| AEM 5111 | Introduction to Econometrics |
| BEE 5280 | Systems and Synthetic Biology for Sustainable Energy |
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| BEE 5952 | Master of Engineering Design Project |
| BEE 6880 | Applied Modeling and Simulation for Renewable Energy Systems |
| BEE 5299 | Sustainable Development |
| BEE 5710 | Physical Hydrology for Ecosystems |
| BEE 5530 | Computer-Aided Engineering: Applications to Biological Processes |
Past M.Eng. Project Titles
- A Feasibility Study Of Utilizing Biomass at Cornell’s Combined Heat and Power Plant as a Means of Further Reducing Campus Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- Upgrading dilute ethanol from syngas fermentation to n-caproate with reactor microbiomes
- Evaluating the Impact of Energy Savings Technologies in the Statler Hotel
- Feasibility of Upgrades to the Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility to Increase its Biogas Output
- Model Lesson Curriculum for BEE3299 Sustainable Development Industrial Ecology & Sustainable Engineering
- The design of and underground heat exchanger for the experimental hydroponic greenhouse
- International transport and East Asian influence on the US surface Ozone -Policy perspective on geographical and seasonal influences