Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 14
Strengthening Scientists and Engineers
Appreciation of the Real World
Shunsuke Managi
Abstract
This introduces the increased emphasis on society's relationship with
academic research and how to strengthen students' experience outside the research
laboratory. This is already one of the objectives in the ELTP, but is also expected to
gain importance as the new approach to international global environmental change
under Future Earth gains momentum. This will require researchers to improve com-
munications with society and its stakeholders, requiring researchers to hone their
communication skills and ability to envisage the interests and viewpoints of dif-
ferent stakeholders. The field of environmental economics brings together many
aspects of sustainability and its compatibility with the economic system, and this
chapter raises a number of questions (including those emerging after the 2011 tsu-
nami and Fukushima nuclear disaster) designed to encourage students to apply a
more system-wide and lateral thinking.
Keywords
Fukushima
·
Tsunami
·
Economic costing
·
Valuing life
·
Future Earth
·
Stakeholders
14.1
Science Engineering and Society
This topic has originated from a series of lectures given in the postgraduate Environ-
mental Leader Training Program (ELTP) at Tohoku University, where most of the
students are conducting research for their PhD or MSc in various fields of science or
engineering. The various lectures, and the associated chapters in his topic, provide
additional knowledge and insights into a range of energy and resource problems. In
some cases these will be in fields close to the student's own research area; in other
areas it will add a breadth to his/her knowledge and contribute to their 'bird's eye
view' of these problems, which is one of the ELTP's objectives.
Most young researchers will still be in a position where they are learning the
art of research which is based on strict objectivity, rationality, openness and debate
