Engineering for Social and Environmental Justice

Interested in the social and environmental justice issues related to the field of engineering? Then this PhD topic may be just what you're looking for!

Posted by Dani Barrington to Western Australia Chapter, 20th May 2010, 3:58pm

PhD Scholarship in Engineering Education in Social and Environmental Justice

Engineering Education for Social and Environmental Justice is a project funded by the Australian Teaching and Learning Council. We are interested in exploring how to enable Engineering students to be socially just and to think critically about the issues which they will face as professional graduates, and at the same time address the requirements of a professional degree. The aim of the project is therefore to both develop an interdisciplinary knowledge framework for social and environmental justice, and to explore the pedagogical means by which that framework can be situated within Engineering Education.

Professor Caroline Baillie, Winthrop Professor of Engineering Education at the University of Western Australia, will lead the project, which will have intellectual input from an interdisciplinary team of interested scholars. This team includes representatives from Indigenous Studies, History, Anthropology, Philosophy, Education and Engineering. This research project has a unique opportunity to shape both a new curriculum and a new pedagogical framework for Engineering.

The PhD student will be expected to study the effectiveness of student learning under the supervision of the Project Leader by interviewing staff and students, and observing classes. Candidates must have an Honours degree (First Class Honours or Second Class Honours, Division 1) in a related degree; both Engineering and non-Engineering graduates should have a demonstrable interest in social and environmental justice, and an ability or potential to conduct social science research. They need also to be able to demonstrate some connection, experience or interest in technical disciplines or technologies and their applications in different contexts. The successful applicant will be based within the School of Environmental Systems Engineering, within the Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics at the University of Western Australia.

The Scholarship will be awarded on the basis of academic achievement as evidenced by academic records and research potential based on academic and/or employer referee reports. The tenure of the award will be up to three years. Continuation into a second or third year depends upon the Project Leader being satisfied that satisfactory progress has been made. The award carries a stipend which is valued at 26,000$ per year. [International students will be able to apply separately for scholarships for the foreign student fee levy, for more information see the UWA Scholarships site]

For further information contact Professor Caroline Baillie on 6488 3137.

Applications should include a covering letter, CV and a copy of your academic record.
Applications should be submitted to rita.armstrong@uwa.edu.au by June 1st. Alternatively hard copies may be submitted to the following address:

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