Engineering Sustainable Design and Innovation in Island Nations: Guam

 

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. 

 
They often also present a unique and constrained set of material resources that have shaped indigenous cultural practices often spawning rare adaptations/designs. 
 
By studying abroad 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. 

 

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!

 

 

What You'll Accomplish: 
As an active and engaged participant on this program, you can expect to:
 
  • 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!)
 
 
Guam is a U.S. territory in the center of the Asian Pacific. Sitting on the other side of the international dateline, Guam is the largest island in Micronesia in the western Pacific Ocean. Guam has an area of 210 Square miles and a population is approximately 180,000. 
 
The island has been inhabited by the Chamoru people since 2500 B.C.  The island was colonized by Spain in 1565 and governed as a colony for 300 years before it was ceded to the U.S. after the Spanish-American War 1898. 
 
With over a million tourists visiting the island every year, it boasts a robust multicultural heritage with residents from around the world. 
 
To learn more- visit this website.
 
Where You'll Live: 
Housing for this program will be in a combination of university dormitories and hotels for the duration of the program. Students will stay in either double or triple rooms for the entire program, having 1-2 roommates on the program. 
 
What You'll Study: 
 
Through academic and cultural tours, talks by local experts, and interviews, you will be exposed to the complexity of sustainable engineering problems faced by Pacific Islands through this 3-credit summer course. You can read the draft syllabus below.
 
Working with local organizations to better understand the challenges and barriers to sustainability you will build upon their initial ideas and apply engineering designs to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as geo-political, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors. 
 
Students will gain the ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning and research strategies. Students are expected to be engaged, respectful, and flexible during the entirety of the program.
 
The program will include interactive sessions learning about the history and culture of Guam (examples include visits to cultural sites such as focusing on traditional medicine, agriculture, and sustainability). We will also visit ecological sites, such as Marine Preserves. Academic visits may include government agencies, local universities, Guam Waterworks, etc. 
 

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.

 

Engineering Sustainable Design and Innovation in Island Nations: Guam (ENGR1605)

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. 

 

Syllabus:
File Download ENGR-1605_2605-IslandNationsSyllabus-Guam-2024.docx (21.81 MB)
Experiential Learning Description: 

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. 

 

 

Your Pitt Study Abroad Contacts: 

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.

E-mail: 
david.sanchez@pitt.edu

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! 

E-mail: 
l.smith@pitt.edu

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
 
Remember that your lifestyle and spending choices can greatly affect the amount of money you'll need while abroad.  Visit our budgeting page for more information.
 
**Note that Pitt Global Experience Office courses/programs such as this one, operate outside of normal tuition and fee schedules and cannot be combined nor included in full-term tuition pricing. 

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!
 
 
What's Included: 

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
What Else You Need to Know: 

 
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