CEE 2630 - DESIGN FOR CIRCULAR ECONOMY Minimum Credits: 3 Maximum Credits: 3 The current linear consumption model of raw material extraction, production, use, and disposal has dominated the global economy for hundreds of years. While an extremely wasteful approach to resource management, the linear model was tractable so long as it was employed by a small fraction of the global population, namely the developed world, so that both raw material acquisition and waste management remained economically viable. Today, we clearly see that this linear model has led to serious unintended global consequences. Circular economy (CE) offers promising solutions. CE principles are based on efficient use of resources and eliminating waste from product life cycles through clever design. Valuable material either moves in loops through the economy, or, if biologically derived, returns to the ecosystem to serve as nutrients; a truly circular economy thus keeps material in continuous use by design. The goal of this course is to provide students a thorough introduction to circular economy, along with integrating design. This course will provide students with skills and knowledge related to CE. Through experiential and project-based learning, the students will develop circular economy affinity groups that will tackle a pressing challenge including design for degradation solutions for ocean plastics and design for reuse of construction materials. Academic Career: Graduate Course Component: Lecture Grade Component: Grad Letter Grade Click here for class schedule information.
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