Engineering · 5th Year · Sustainable Engineering for the Future · 4.º Período

Engineering Solutions to Climate Change

Pupils explore how engineers are designing flood defences and carbon capture technologies to combat climate change. They debate the ethical responsibilities of modern engineering.

TL;DR:Engineering is at the forefront of the fight against climate change. This topic explores how engineers design flood defenses for Irish coastal towns and develop technologies like carbon capture. It aligns with SESE Geography (Environmental awareness) and Science (Designing and making).

• NCCA Curriculum Specifications
• SESE Geography: Environmental awareness and care
• SESE Science: Designing and making

About This Topic

Engineering is at the forefront of the fight against climate change. This topic explores how engineers design flood defenses for Irish coastal towns and develop technologies like carbon capture. It aligns with SESE Geography (Environmental awareness) and Science (Designing and making).

Students examine the ethical responsibility of engineers to protect the planet. They look at local examples, such as the flood barriers in Cork or Dublin. This topic is best explored through collaborative problem-solving where students must design a defense system for a town at risk of rising sea levels.

Key Questions

1. How can engineers protect coastal towns from flooding?
2. What is carbon capture?
3. What role do engineers play in protecting our planet?

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

We can just build higher walls everywhere to stop flooding.

What to Teach Instead

Explain that walls can sometimes make flooding worse elsewhere or destroy natural habitats. Peer discussion about 'nature-based solutions' like planting trees or restoring wetlands helps broaden their perspective.

Common Misconception

Climate change is a problem for the future, not now.

What to Teach Instead

Show recent examples of flooding or extreme weather in Ireland. Using local news reports makes the engineering need feel urgent and relevant to the students' own communities.

Active Learning Ideas

Inquiry Circle

Flood Defense

In a tray of sand and water, students build a 'coastal town'. They are given materials like stones, clay, and sponges to build defenses and must test which ones best protect the town from a 'storm surge'.

50 min·Small Groups

Formal Debate

Who Should Pay?

Students debate whether the government, local businesses, or individuals should pay for expensive new flood defenses. They must consider the long-term costs of doing nothing.

30 min·Whole Class

Think-Pair-Share

Capturing Carbon

After watching a short clip on carbon capture, students work in pairs to draw a 'machine' that could suck CO2 out of the air, discussing where they would put it and why.

20 min·Pairs

Frequently Asked Questions

How can active learning help students understand climate engineering?

Active learning, particularly through simulations and debates, helps students grapple with the complexity of climate change. When they build their own flood defenses, they see that there is no 'perfect' solution and that every engineering choice has trade-offs. This develops their critical thinking and helps them understand that engineering is a vital tool for protecting our society and the environment.

What is carbon capture and storage?

It is a technology that catches carbon dioxide from factories or the air and pumps it deep underground so it cannot contribute to global warming.

How do engineers protect Irish towns from the sea?

They use a mix of 'hard' engineering like sea walls and rock armor, and 'soft' engineering like sand dune restoration and creating salt marshes to absorb wave energy.

Can engineering really stop climate change?

Engineering can provide the tools to reduce emissions and protect us from the effects, but it also requires changes in how we live and support from governments and people worldwide.