SUSM 680 - Industrial Ecology: Principles and Approaches

Industrial ecology is the study of flows and stocks of materials and energy as humans interact with nature. Conceived as a metaphor, industrial ecology provides understanding to support design and management of industrial systems. The course introduces key ideas, theories, and terminology for industrial ecology using seminal and current articles that define the field. Fundamental principles and approaches are explored, including social and urban metabolism, input/output analysis, life cycle assessment and material flow analysis.