Ecology II: Engineering for Sustainability
MIT OpenCourseWare offers this engineering course examining how human systems interact with the natural environment. It reviews physical, chemical, ecological, and economic principles, applying mass balance concepts to ecology, chemical kinetics, hydrology, and transportation, and energy balance concepts to building design and climate change. Economic and life cycle analysis is used to evaluate resources and engineering design choices. Problem sets require building numerical models in MATLAB to integrate these concepts and assess the environmental impacts of human activity. Some prior programming experience is helpful but not required. Materials include lecture notes, assignments, and MATLAB-based problem sets from MIT's Civil and Environmental Engineering curriculum. The course is free to audit through MIT OpenCourseWare, with no certificate offered.