MIT is offering a short program on "Technology and Sustainability" from July 9-11, 2018, in Cambridge, MA. The instructors are Tim Gutowski of MIT, Bhavik Bakshi of The Ohio State University, and Dusan Sekulic of the University of Kentucky, who are co-editors of, "Thermodynamics and the Destruction of Resources" (http://www.cambridge.org/9780521884556).

A brief description of this course is as follows.

Organizations are aware of the need to reduce their carbon footprints. Unfortunately there is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to becoming an environmentally friendly and socially responsible business. This course helps companies understand what they need to do in order to operate greener and achieve their goals.

You'll learn about important industry issues and trends from multiple perspectives, and at different scales, and explore:

• Which solutions have the greatest ability to effect change
• How to implement strategies in the most efficient and effective way, valuing economic and natural resources,
• What impact technological advances such as 3D printing, process intensification, and autonomous vehicles may have on sustainability efforts
• How to manage conflicting goals, such as, longer life products (circular economy) versus rapid product development (re-industrialization).

The class uses our book Thermodynamics and the Destruction of Resources (Cambridge University Press, 2011) and builds on these topics from a solid basis. Examples will be taken from diverse areas but with special attention to current and emerging chemical and manufacturing processes and product analysis. Participants are encouraged to bring sample cases for discussion and class will include time for hands-on LCA demonstrations.

For more information, please visit
http://professional.mit.edu/programs/short-programs/technology-and-sustainability