Engineering for a Humanitarian Context

Effective engineering design and technology plays a significant role for humanitarian contexts. These contexts can range in time - from disaster preparedness and response, to long-term sustainable community development - and in geographic scale - from urban to rural and remote, within our own communities and internationally. Engineering for a Humanitarian Context will provide students with perspectives and tools to sensitively and appropriately apply their engineering practice to humanitarian contexts and development. The course will expand students’ existing engineering knowledge to work with vulnerable, disadvantaged and marginalised individuals and communities in challenging and uncertain environments, informing and improving their overall engineering practice. Students will explore the history of community development in Australia and the region, including contemporary approaches and models used. Appropriate and sustainable design and technology will be explored, including critical reflection of the benefits and limitations of engineering practice.