Example engineering dissertation topic 6:

The development of guiding principles in sustainable engineering: A review

The engineers of tomorrow need to be cognisant that the ‘easy’ engineering options of the past – when resources were viewed almost as infinite – no longer represent the engineering landscape of the future. This thesis reviews the principles by which engineers should guide their practice, and how those principles have come to pass. It undertakes a relatively broad review of such principles across several engineering disciplines, and makes recommendations for guidelines by which chartered engineers should in future abide.

Suggested initial topic reading:

• Azapagic, A., Perdan, S. and Shallcross, D. (2005) ‘How much do engineering students know about sustainable development? The findings of an international survey and possible implications for the engineering curriculum’, European Journal of Engineering Education, Vol. 30(1), pp. 1-19.
• Pettersen, I.N. and Boks, C. (2008) ‘The ethics in balancing control and freedom when engineering solutions for sustainable behaviour’, International Journal of Sustainable Engineering, Vol. 1(4), pp. 287-297.