- Dealing with complexity...through adopting a systems approach;
- Dealing with uncertainty...when decision-making in the absence of complete information or evidence;
- Dealing with change...by challenging orthodoxy and envisioning the future;
- Dealing with other disciplines...through building multidisciplinary teams;
- Dealing with people...through consultation processes and negotiation to meet society’s and individual’s needs;
- Dealing with environmental limits...through seeking efficient resource use, ensuring pollution control and maintaining ecosystem services;
- Dealing with whole-life costs....by considering environmental and social externalities and embracing life-cycle management and
- Dealing with trade offs...by avoiding optimisation around a single variable or viewpoint to create solutions acceptable for all.
The MPhil programme identifies these key aspects are needed when approaching engineering problems from a sustainability perspective and indicates the methods and approaches used to develop the skills required.