This course, offered for the first time in the Spring semester, 1999, is intended to be an elective course for seniors in the Chemical Engineering curriculum. As such, it satisfies the ChEg elective (or technical elective). Requirement Prerequisite: Senior standing in Chemical Engineering
The course covers various topics pertaining to the earth's natural (ecological and biogeochemical) systems and the effects of disturbances or imbalances, particularly those caused by human/industrial activities. Based on chemical engineering fundamentals embodied in chemical reaction engineering, process dynamics, and transport phenomena, the principal topics center on population and ecosystem dynamics, and on the fate and transport of chemicals in the environment. Examples and applications are drawn from such subjects as the endangerment or extinction of species, global warming, pollutant dispersion, ozone depletion in the stratosphere, and acid rain.
Methods of mathematical modeling, nonlinear dynamics, and computer simulations are used extensively in the course.
In a major course assignment, students work in small groups on a modelling/simulation project.
