We live in an era of continuous change. In the branch of engineering, beyond
the usual and pressing objectives of functionality, safety and integrity,
computers are now used pervasively, new economic pressures and concern
for the environment are looming, and the availability of energy resources and
proper functioning of materials supply chains are ever more important.
Students need an education that allows them to understand and deal with
these changes, in a time when growth in the number of students,
expectations and pressure on teaching resources is a challenge for
professors, particularly for younger academics.
Engineers create things out of materials. What do engineering students need
to know to select and use materials that perform as expected, are safe,
economically efficient and have the least environmental impact? This
question leads to the introduction of the design approach. Knowledge, data
and tools are necessary for students to make decisions that meet complex
design requirements. This means that science is introduced in a way that
facilitates understanding how to meet design requirements and select
materials and processes.
This paper also introduces briefly some of the new aspects of the 2012 CES
EduPack. This tool developed by Granta Design, supports professors and
helps students of both introductory and advanced courses in branches such
as engineering, design and science in the study of materials. CES EduPack
is used in more than 850 universities and institutes around the world and is
continually evolving to offer a new version each January. Changes and new
features are focused on two pathways, one active (eg development of Eco
Selector and Eco-audit tool) and another in response to feedback from users.
The latter has made the software more intuitive and easy to use.
