Page 4 - Annual Report 2012

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Industrial Ecology is one of more than 35 in-

ternational master’s degrees offered at the

Norwegian University of Science and Tech-

nology (NTNU). All of these international

programmes last for a duration of 4 semes-

ters (full time) and are taught in English.

While focusing on the emerging environ-

mental impacts of a developing consumer

and production system, the pluralistic and

multicultural nature of the student body is

also a central part of this degree in Industrial

Ecology. Each year, 20-25 new students are

admitted into the MSc in Industrial Ecology.

The programme also attracts students from

other fields of research at the Department

of Energy and Process Engineering etc., to

write their thesis under the supervision or

guidance of professors affiliated with the

Industrial Ecology programme.

With a majority of students in the Indus-

trial Ecology programme coming from

abroad, the study environment thrives on

international exchange and the interac-

tion between people from different conti-

nents who all have an interest in the very

diverse realm of industrial ecology. An-

other decisive factor when it comes to the

study environment is the MSc candidates’

different educational backgrounds. This is

evident when considering how you need

a Bachelor’s degree in either Engineering,

Industrial Design, Architecture, Natural or

Social Sciences in order to be accepted into

the Industrial Ecology programme. Conse-

quently, the programme is defined by its

diverse student body, focusing on a range

of different topics within Industrial Ecology.

The learning objectives of the MSc in Indus-

trial ecology states that “[…]the aim of the

programme is that students gain knowl-

edge, skills and competence necessary to

identify, understand and influence critical

aspects of society’s biophysical metabolism

and use of resources, as a basis for reducing

potential life-cycle environmental impacts

of production-consumption systems at dif-

ferent levels […]”.The programme focuses

on several different levels of analysis, in-

cluding society, sector and corporate levels

into the study programme. The MSc in In-

dustrial Ecology is structured in a way as to

give the students an in-depth understand-

ing of state-of-the-art methods for environ-

mental systems analysis and strategies for

policy and management. It also emphasizes

the need to practice the application of such

strategies and methods to critical systems.

Energy production, industrial product and

process design, industrial symbiosis, sus-

tainable consumption, environmental man-

agement, climate change, corporate social

responsibility, policy analysis, sustainable

buildings, transportation, infrastructure,

and waste recycling are examples of areas

treated within the programme for Industrial

Ecology. An important emphasis is put on

the study of how materials and energy flow

within different systems, what factors influ-

ence these flows, and how environmental

impacts can be reduced. Industrial Ecol-

ogy’s research and knowledge in Life Cycle

Assessment (LCA), Material Flows Analysis

(MFA) and Input-Output analysis (IO) is

world-renowned.

Students of the MSc programme in Indus-

trial Ecology gain a competitive knowledge

of an interesting field of research which

is increasingly important in a developing

consumer and production structure. This

knowledge is attractive with a wide range

of employers throughout the world. Indus-

trial Ecology graduates are now active in

research or leading strategic environmental

projects in business, industry and govern-

mental agencies.

Contact person:

MSc Programme director/Professor Helge

Brattebø helge.brattebo@ntnu.no