Develop Students’ Skills Through Photonics and Optoelectronics Engineering Experiments that Promote Sustainability Concepts

About this initiative

Incorporating sustainability into education can be enhanced through engaging photonics experiments [1,2]. This approach not only fosters an understanding of sustainability principles but also illustrates the importance of photonics in modern technology. The project seeks to describe how to use photonics experiments to teach students about photonics and engineering technologies while embedding sustainability concepts. This experiential activity will use the selection of materials to explore some optoelectronics and photonics technologies that can achieve sustainability concepts and engage participants in discussions and a contextualised negotiation of multiple facets of sustainability. Participants first assume one of the engineering roles to identify specific sustainability priorities based on their responsibilities and expertise. Next, they will represent the perspective of their assigned role to optimise sustainability in the design. This work provides the outline of an activity designed to teach innovative learning outcomes, material to assist the facilitator in preparing, and slides and handouts for teaching the activity.