Reflections on an Immersive International Engineering Program Focused on Sustainable Energy in Brazil: A Student's Perspective

Chaney E. Dietz; Aidan J. Kane; Courtney A. Pfluger

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Conference: 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Baltimore , Maryland
Publication Date: June 25, 2023
Start Date: June 25, 2023
End Date: June 28, 2023
Conference Session: International Division (INTL) Technical Session #3: Student Perspectives
Tagged Division: International Division (INTL)
Page Count: 13
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--44075
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/44075
Download Count: 217

Paper Authors

biography

Chaney E. Dietz Northeastern University

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Chaney Dietz is a Northeastern University student studying Chemical Engineering with a minor in Mathematics as a part of the class of 2025. In January 2023, she took a position as a Process Engineering co-op at ASMPT NEXX. Inc, and is completing a six-month internship in the advanced technologies department. She participated in a Dialogue of Civilizations, a 5-week summer intensive through Northeastern University. This program was located in Brazil and focused on advances in sustainable energy paired with traditional engineering curricula. In the future, Chaney hopes to pursue a career in biotechnology with a strong emphasis on sustainable, renewable, and clean energy.

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Aidan J. Kane Northeastern University

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Courtney A. Pfluger Northeastern University

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Dr. Courtney Pfluger received her PhD at Northeastern University in 2011 and began as an Assistant Teaching Professor in First-year Engineering Program at Northeastern where she redesigned the curriculum and developed courses with sustainability and clean water themes. In 2017, she moved to ChE Department where she has taught core courses and redesigned the Capstone design course. She has also developed and ran 8 Faculty-led Dialogue of Civilization programs to Brazil focused on Sustainable Energy. She has won several teaching awards including ChE Sioui Award for Excellence in Teaching, Northeastern COE Outstanding Teaching Award, and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) Innovation in ChE Education Award. She also won best paper at the Annual 2022 ASEE conference in both Design in Engineering Education Division and the Professional Interest Council 5 (PIC V) for her research in Inclusive Team-based learning.

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Abstract

It is incumbent upon the next generation of engineers to address the issues of climate change. With this, there are many challenges including understanding our current technologies and the viability to implement them on a global scale. This student paper addresses the evolution of a five-week sustainable energy intensive in Brazil. The ‘Dialogue of Civilizations’ aims to increase the global competency of XX University students by immersing them in a foreign culture through language, food, and education from the student perspective. Through engineering curriculum, culture classes, and tours of various energy infrastructure facilities around the country, students gained knowledge on major climate issues. Visits included a tour of CTE, a company that works to make LEED certified buildings; a biomass landfill; energy storage laboratories of the University of Sao Paulo; Zambianco, a sustainable sugar and ethanol plant; Angra, the only nuclear power plant in the country, and others. Incorporated in the trip was a project where students were split into groups and paired with Brazilian students from local universities and an employee from a local segment of a company, CPFL Energia. CPFL is the second largest non-state-owned electric energy generation and distribution company in Brazil. The goal of the program was to problem-solve real issues that the company faces. Solutions were required to be analyzed for economic, political, and social viability. The main takeaway from this experience can be categorized into two groups: sustainable energy goals and cultural enrichment. Through classroom learning and experience, the prominent barrier to overcome with renewable sources stems from the lack of storage options. Currently, there are no means for on demand energy in a sustainable, economically favorable, and practical manner. With respect to cultural enhancement, the authentic program allowed each student to see the world from a different perspective. The combination of travel, classes, and applied learning expanded the knowledge of the traveler past academia.

*Note: This is a student paper

Citation
Format

Dietz, C. E., & Kane, A. J., & Pfluger, C. A. (2023, June), Reflections on an Immersive International Engineering Program Focused on Sustainable Energy in Brazil: A Student's Perspective Paper presented at 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Baltimore , Maryland. 10.18260/1-2--44075

TY - CPAPER
AB - It is incumbent upon the next generation of engineers to address the issues of climate change. With this, there are many challenges including understanding our current technologies and the viability to implement them on a global scale.
This student paper addresses the evolution of a five-week sustainable energy intensive in Brazil. The ‘Dialogue of Civilizations’ aims to increase the global competency of XX University students by immersing them in a foreign culture through language, food, and education from the student perspective. Through engineering curriculum, culture classes, and tours of various energy infrastructure facilities around the country, students gained knowledge on major climate issues. Visits included a tour of CTE, a company that works to make LEED certified buildings; a biomass landfill; energy storage laboratories of the University of Sao Paulo; Zambianco, a sustainable sugar and ethanol plant; Angra, the only nuclear power plant in the country, and others.
Incorporated in the trip was a project where students were split into groups and paired with Brazilian students from local universities and an employee from a local segment of a company, CPFL Energia. CPFL is the second largest non-state-owned electric energy generation and distribution company in Brazil. The goal of the program was to problem-solve real issues that the company faces. Solutions were required to be analyzed for economic, political, and social viability.
The main takeaway from this experience can be categorized into two groups: sustainable energy goals and cultural enrichment. Through classroom learning and experience, the prominent barrier to overcome with renewable sources stems from the lack of storage options. Currently, there are no means for on demand energy in a sustainable, economically favorable, and practical manner. With respect to cultural enhancement, the authentic program allowed each student to see the world from a different perspective. The combination of travel, classes, and applied learning expanded the knowledge of the traveler past academia.

*Note: This is a student paper

AU - Chaney E. Dietz
AU - Aidan J. Kane
AU - Courtney A. Pfluger
CY - Baltimore , Maryland
DA - 2023/06/25
PB - ASEE Conferences
TI - Reflections on an Immersive International Engineering Program Focused on Sustainable Energy in Brazil: A Student's Perspective
UR - https://peer.asee.org/44075
DO - 10.18260/1-2--44075
ER -