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Global Environmental Engineering for and with Historically Marginalized Communities
Susan J Masten1, Angela Harris2, Joshua Kearns3
1Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA.
Environmental Engineering Science
|June 3, 2021
Summary
This research addresses environmental justice for marginalized communities globally. It highlights community-based participatory research on challenges and solutions in water treatment, agriculture, and climate adaptation.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Engineering
- Environmental Justice
- Community-Based Participatory Research
Background:
- Marginalized communities face disproportionate environmental and health risks.
- Lack of participation in social, economic, and political spheres exacerbates these issues.
- This special issue focuses on the unique environmental challenges in historically underserved global communities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present findings from transdisciplinary research on environmental challenges in marginalized communities worldwide.
- To showcase innovative solutions and strategies addressing these unique environmental issues.
- To explore educational and faculty development strategies for humanitarian engineering and underrepresented minorities.
Main Methods:
- Community-based participatory research (CBPR) was employed across diverse global locations.
- Transdisciplinary approaches integrated engineering with social sciences and public health.
- A review of 13 articles covering various environmental and educational topics.
Main Results:
- Research presented includes inexpensive water treatment technologies and novel agricultural strategies.
- Climate change adaptation strategies and insights into biodiversity loss were discussed.
- Educational strategies for humanitarian engineering ethics and promoting underrepresented minorities in environmental engineering were detailed.
Conclusions:
- Environmental engineering solutions must be tailored to the specific needs of marginalized communities.
- Transdisciplinary and community-based approaches are crucial for effective environmental justice.
- Promoting diversity and ethical considerations is vital for the future of environmental engineering.
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