Professor Maria Warren led the Women in Engineering Sustainability Trip over spring break this year, exploring sustainability, policy and leadership with undergraduate students.
The group travelled to two different regions of Ireland — Dublin and Kylemore Abbey in Connemara. They toured engineering facilities; presented a sustainability-related class project to former Naughton Fellows from University College Dublin and Trinity University; visited the Aran Islands (with an archeologist) and a wind farm; and experienced the culture of Ireland.
The goal of the trip is to help students gain a more global perspective on sustainability and the efforts on campus, community, and beyond, said Warren, assistant teaching professor of aerospace and mechanical engineering.
“Europe and Ireland in particular are noted for being more environmentally conscious than the U.S., so this is an opportunity for engineering students to learn how policy and community norms impact design decisions,” said Kerry Meyers, director of Women in Engineering.
This is the second year of the Women in Engineering trip to Ireland. Students apply, and priority is given to junior and senior engineering undergraduate students who have a demonstrated interest in sustainability-related projects, especially students who have not had the opportunity to study abroad.
The 12 students on this trip came from seven engineering majors — mechanical, electrical, computer science, computer engineering, civil, environmental, and chemical — in all five engineering departments.
— Notre Dame College of Engineering; Photos by Maria Warren