- Overview
- Location and Housing
- Academics
- Experiential Learning
- Faculty and Staff
- Costs
- Additional Information
Please note: Engineering Sustainable Design and Innovation in Island Nations is not running for Summer 2024.
Island nations provide a unique learning opportunity to evaluate the complex task of engineering for sustainability. On small islands the connections between social, economic, and environmental impacts are more easily traced and the scale of the processes more readily tracked.
If you would like to know more about the program, Dr. Sanchez is more than happy to meet with you! Please use this link to schedule an appointment with him.
Listen to what Dr. Sanchez has to say about the program below!
- Gain an understanding of the challenges that Pacific islands face and meeting the UN Sustainable Development goals
- Develop insight on Guam’s economic, cultural, and social structures
- Learn how to use sustainable design (i.e. biomimicry) to balance natural resource management with economic development
- Learn from local entities to develop contemporary engineering sustainability solutions
- Learn how to cook a local Chamoru dish (and eat it!)
Engineering students can view how this course will fulfill degree requirements on the SSOE Intranet.
This course will count for an elective for the Sustainability Certificate.
Island nations provide a unique learning opportunity to evaluate the complex task of engineering for sustainability. On small islands the connections between social, economic, and environmental impacts are more easily traced and the scale of the processes more readily tracked.
They often also present a unique and constrained set of material resources that have shaped indigenous cultural practices often spawning rare adaptations/designs.
By participating in this global experience, you will explore the context of engineering challenges/opportunities/tradeoffs for sustainability in Guam by considering social (culture, history, governance), environmental (natural resources, built infrastructure, environmental impacts of industry), and economic (socioeconomics/economic development) perspective.
Students will be a part of multiple “workshops” where they will put into practice sustainable practices in Island living. In addition, there will be course meetings during the summer leading up to the in-country portion of the program. Times for these meetings will be flexible based on students' schedule and location for the summer. Activities and guest lecturers will be part of the meetings and will be held in-person or virtually.
Dr. David Sanchez
David Sanchez, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor in the University of Pittsburgh’s Civil & Environmental Engineering Department. He is also the Associate Director for the Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation where he oversees the Sustainability Education programs such as the Undergraduate Certificate, Master’s in Sustainable Engineering and John C. Mascaro Faculty Fellows program. As an investigator Dr. Sanchez directs the Sustainable Design Labs where they look to enhance the sustainability of the natural and built environment on a local/regional scale. Current projects include converting Waste-to-Energy via bio-electrochemical systems, designing and deploying real-time sensors to identify uncertainty in water quality trends, and optimizing vertical agriculture/aquaculture systems. Dr. Sanchez is the recipient of several awards including a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, IGERT Traineeship, Alfred P. Sloan Scholarship, Pittsburgh Business Time Energy Award, the Pitt Faculty Sustainability Award and, the Best Mentor Award for Pitt’s Excel program. He actively leads international engineering trips on behalf of the Swanson School of Engineering and is excited about our Guam program.
Schedule an appointment
Looking to schedule an appointment with Dr. Sanchez? You can schedule with him here.
Lauren Smith-Lemesh M.Ed.
Om Swastiastu Pitt! My name is Lauren, and I am one of the Global Programs Managers in the Swanson School of Engineering. I studied abroad in Indonesia during undergraduate, and worked as a peer study abroad advisor once I returned. After my study abroad trip, I knew that I wanted to support students to have life-changing experiences abroad too. Let's talk about your interests and find a program that will help you achieve your goals!
Schedule an appointment
Schedule an appointment with me using Pathways!
- Log in to Pathways or use the Navigate app.
- Select Appointments > Schedule an Appointment
- Select Pitt Global as the Care Unit.
- Select 152 Benedum as the Location
- Select ENGR Global as the service
- Select my name and find a time that works for you!
Having trouble or don't see a time that works for you? Just email me!
Items Billed by Pitt |
||
---|---|---|
In-state | Out-of-state | |
Program Fee | TBD | TBD |
Study Abroad Fee | $300 | $300 |
Total Billed by Pitt | TBD | TBD |
Estimated Additional Out-of-Pocket Costs |
||
---|---|---|
Airfare Estimate | $2,100 | |
Visa costs, if applicable (If you are not a U.S. Citizen there may be costs associated with applying for a Guam visa)
|
Varies |
For global scholarship opportunities, check out:
- The Pitt GEO scholarship page for links to national, provider and private scholarship samples.
- PittFund$Me for Pitt sponsored funding including Pitt wide global scholarships, Nationality Rooms, VIH, etc.
- PittFund$Me for the SSOE Global Experience Scholarships!
As a part of the program costs, the following were included in the program:
- Tuition for 3 Pitt credits
- Housing in Guam
- All ground transportation
- Health and accident insurance
- Daily breakfast, and some lunches and dinners
- Admission and participation to all events and excursions included with the program
Admissions Requirements:
- Must have a 2.75 GPA or higher
- Good academic and behavioral standing
- Must have finished your second year of engineering or higher level at the time of application