2009-2010 Bulletin – PDF - SEAS Bulletin - Columbia University

Center seeks to develop new sources,
technologies, and infrastructures.
The Lenfest Center focuses primarily
on the technological and institutional
development of the three energy resources
sufficient to support the world’s projected
population in 2100 without increased
carbon emissions: solar, nuclear, and
fossil fuels combined with carbon capture
and storage. Although each of
these options can, in theory, be developed
on a scale to satisfy global
demand, they each face a combination
of technological and institutional obstacles
that demand research and development
before they can be deployed.
The Center’s main activities are
based within the range of natural science
and engineering disciplines. At the
same time, it integrates technological
research with analysis of the institutional,
economic, and political context within
which energy technologies are commercialized
and deployed. For more information:
www.energy.columbia.edu
Waste to Energy Research and
Technology Council (WTERT). The
Waste to Energy Research and
Technology Council brings together
engineers, scientists, and managers
from industry, universities, and government
with the objective of advancing the
goals of sustainable waste management
globally. The mission of WTERT is to
identify the best available technologies
for the treatment of various waste materials,
conduct additional academic
research as required, and disseminate
this information by means of its publications,
the WTERT Web, and annual
meetings. In particular, WTERT strives to
increase the global recovery of energy
and materials from used solids and to
advance the economic and environmental
performance of waste-to-energy
(WTE) technologies in the U.S. and
worldwide. The guiding principle is that
responsible management of wastes
must be based on science and the best
available technology and not what
seems to be inexpensive now but can
be very costly in the near future. For
more information: www.seas.columbia.
edu/earth/wtert
SCHOLARSHIPS, FELLOWSHIPS,
AND INTERNSHIPS
The department arranges for undergraduate
Earth engineering summer internships
after the sophomore and junior
years. Undergraduates can also participate
in graduate research projects under
the work-study program. Graduate
research and teaching assistantships,
as well as fellowships funded by the
Department, are available to qualified
graduate students. GRE scores are
required of all applicants for graduate
studies.
UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM
The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree
in Earth and environmental engineering
prepares students for careers in the
public and private sector concerned
with primary materials (minerals, fuels,
water) and the environment. Graduates
are also prepared to continue with further
studies in Earth/environmental sciences
and engineering, business, public
policy, international studies, law, and
medicine. The EEE program is accredited
as an environmental engineering program
by the Accreditation Board for Engineering
and Technology (ABET).
What Is Earth and Environmental
Engineering
It is now recognized by the U.S. and
other nations that continuing economic
development must be accompanied by
intelligent use of Earth’s resources and
that engineers can contribute much to
the global efforts for sustainable development.
The technologies that have
been developed for identifying, extracting,
and processing primary materials
are also being applied to the twentyfirst-century
problems of resource recovery
from used materials, pollution prevention,
and environmental remediation.
The EEE undergraduate program
encompasses these technologies.
Undergraduate Program Objectives
1.Graduates equipped with the necessary
tools (mathematics, chemistry,
physics, Earth sciences, and engineering
science) will understand and
implement the underlying principles
used in the engineering of processes
and systems.
2.Graduates will be able to pursue
careers in industry, government agencies,
and other organizations concerned
with the environment and the
provision of primary and secondary
materials and energy, as well as continue
their education as graduate students
in related disciplines.
3.Graduates will possess the basic skills
needed for the practice of Earth and
environmental engineering, including
measurement and control of material
flows through the environment;
assessment of environmental impact
of past, present, and future industrial
activities; and analysis and design of
processes for remediation, recycling,
and disposal of used materials.
4.Graduates will practice their profession
with excellent written and communication
skills and with professional
ethics and responsibilities.
The Curriculum
The first two years of the EEE program
are similar to those of other engineering
programs. Students are provided with a
strong foundation in basic sciences and
mathematics, as well as the liberal arts
core. Specific to the EEE program is an
early and sustained introduction to Earth
science and environmental engineering,
and options for a number of science
courses to meet the specific interests
of each student. The junior and senior
years of the program consist of a group
of required courses in engineering science
and a broad selection of technical
electives organized into three distinct
concentrations, representing major areas
of focus within the department.
Several Columbia departments,
such as Civil Engineering, Mechanical
Engineering, and Earth and Environmental
Sciences (Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory),
as well as the Mailman School
of Public Health, contribute courses to
the EEE program. EEE students are
strongly encouraged to work as summer
interns in industry or agencies on projects
related to Earth and environmental
engineering. The department helps students
get summer internships.
Technical Elective Concentrations
Students majoring in Earth and environmental
engineering select one of the
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SEAS 2009–2010