Environmental Sustainability Project by First-Year Engineering Students: Composting

Abstract

Students in Hyderabad, India, explain the “freshmen’s Composting Initiative”, a project they undertook as a part of their environmental science course. The initiative puts a strong emphasis on problem-based learning (PBL) and real-world sustainability. It emphasizes the significance of giving pupils the knowledge and abilities necessary for environmental responsibility as well as the connection between human well- being and the natural world. The all-India Council for Technical Education’s (AICTE) decision to include “Environmental Science” in the first-year B.Tech. Curriculum served as the impetus for the effort. Although sustainability is emphasized in policies, there is frequently a gap in actual application, which this research seeks to fill. This research helps students comprehend sustainable business practices and environmental issues while also giving them a foundation for putting sustainability into reality. It illustrates the transformative potential of PBL and the part that students play in bridging the sustainability gap between theory and practice. In conclusion, the “Freshmen’s Composting Initiative” shows how first-year engineering students may actively support sustainability through practical projects, aligning with the increased emphasis on environmental educationand the real- world application of sustainable ideas.